BIG10 Media days officially start us off for the 2025 season, and practices start next week. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is known for turning around programs (Temple, Baylor) and making year three jumps. Although the landscape of college football has changed over the years, Rhule still believes his team is ready for a similar jump.
Rhule had a quiet confidence about him during the 2025 Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas. Matt Rhule expressed strong confidence in his team’s potential to make a championship run. He stated, “We like our football team a lot. We believe we can play with anybody… We’re gonna go make a run at this thing this year.”
While it is not an apples to apples comparison due to the changes in college football with NIL and revenue sharing, here is how Rhule performed in year three at Temple and Baylor. In his third year at Temple he went 10-4, and at Baylor he went 11-3. Nebraska’s last 10 win season was in 2012, under Bo Pelini.
Despite changes in college football, Rhule is also fielding new coordinators for offense, defense, and special teams in 2025. In his previous rebuilds, the key to year three was the continuity of his staff and roster that had a shared vision.
Rhule has arguably the strongest staff around him that he has ever had. It is not a stretch to believe that his offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators could easily land a job at any P4 school as a coordinator or even as a head coach.
5 Star QB Dylan Raoila also returns, with new weapons in Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter. Emmett Johnson looked explosive to end last year. And the offensive line has the most potential and talent as it has had in many years.
Rhule knows this. And his quiet confidence at BIG10 media days was a warning to the rest of the BIG10. He is ready for this program to take the next step.
Go Big Red.