5 college football teams who could be the next TCU in 2023
By John Buhler
Matt Rhule can do no wrong in college football, only in the NFL over in Charlotte
If anybody can turn Nebraska football around, it is Matt Rhule. The former Penn State linebacker is back in the Big Ten after the unmitigated disaster that was his run in Charlotte leading the Carolina Panthers. David Tepper made a huge gamble bringing in an elite college program builder into the NFL, and it blew up in everyone’s face. Fortunately, Rhule’s track record says he is perfect for UNL.
For Nebraska to be anything close to what it was during its heyday, Rhule must attack the transfer portal ferociously and coach with an elite mental toughness in crunch time. His predecessor Scott Frost was notoriously bad at losing one-score games in Lincoln. While the Big Ten is going divisionless in two years, Nebraska will be served by the conference becoming less regionalized.
The big issues Rhule will have to overcome at Nebraska is Michigan being a powerhouse and Ohio State only a tick off of that. Factor in his alma mater being a major player this year, and that could make it even more challenging. However, Rhule did make Temple relevant over in the AAC and had Baylor playing in a Sugar Bowl in the wake of the Art Briles scandal. In time, Rhule could do this.
Momentum is a very real thing and Rhule is a master at being able to harness it with lesser talent.