What if Matt Rhule goes winless in November again? Will the Huskers bowl drought continue?
In 2023, Matt Rhule took over a floundering program that under Scott Frost for five years failed to make a bowl game. In his first year, Rhule won 5, although he had won those 5 before November and a bowl game looked promising. He then failed to win a single game in November.
Here we are in year two under Rhule and we got a bit of deja-vu going on. Matt Rhule reached 5 wins before November, but the team hasn’t looked right since then. Its lone bright spot was a close game against Ohio State, before being embarrassed at home by UCLA, who despite only winning two games and having a first-time head coach, made the Huskers look inferior all afternoon.
Now the Huskers are on a bye, with 3 games left and that 6th win barley in reach. The remaining schedule is not easy: at USC, Wisconsin at home and at Iowa. Not a single game you can look at and say it’s for sure win. That’s the nature of the BIG10 these days.
If Rhule goes winless in November a second straight year, the conversations are going to get really uncomfortable. He won’t be fired, it wont even be a discussion, as he is on a large 8 year contract. However, the fanbase will be dissatisfied. He will need to make staff changes (which he already has started this bye week with Dana Holgorson and Phil Snow). And year three will see him on a hot seat.
How long does this fanbase need to endure the drought? How long should they continue to sell out Memorial Stadium with no on the field improvement.
This storied program has fallen. Getting that sixth win is critical, but it’s the bare minimum for this year. Anything less, and the conversations will get uncomfortable.
Will they get that sixth win? They aren’t favored in any of the remaining games. It will take a lot of work, and effort. With only 3 games left, we will have an answer soon.
Go Big Red.
