Uncertainty Grows Among Nebraska Football Fans Over Matt Rhule's Tenure

As other Cornhusker sports programs thrive, the football team's struggles continue to frustrate the passionate fanbase.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:42pm

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There is growing uncertainty among Nebraska football fans about the direction of the program under head coach Matt Rhule. While other Cornhusker sports teams like basketball, baseball, and softball are finding success, the football team's inability to be consistently competitive has left many fans frustrated and questioning Rhule's leadership.

Why it matters

Nebraska is a football-first school, and the Cornhuskers' struggles on the gridiron have left a void that the success of other sports programs has been unable to fully fill. Rhule was brought in with high expectations to turn the program around, but early signs indicate he may be facing an uphill battle to win over the passionate Nebraska fanbase.

The details

The early SP+ rankings have Nebraska sitting at #37 nationally, with the Cornhuskers facing three top-5 teams and three others currently ranked ahead of them in 2026. While Nebraska hasn't been getting blown out, they've been on the losing end of too many close games, which has driven fans crazy. The combination of talking a big game without enough results to back it up has led to growing skepticism about Rhule's ability to get the program back to national prominence.

  • The early SP+ rankings for the 2026 season were recently released.

The players

Matt Rhule

The head coach of the Nebraska football team, who was brought in to turn the program around after several disappointing seasons.

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska men's basketball team, who was recently named National Coach of the Year and has the program on the rise.

Troy Dannen

The athletic director at the University of Nebraska, overseeing the school's various sports programs.

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The takeaway

Nebraska's passionate fanbase is growing increasingly frustrated with the football team's inability to return to national relevance, even as other Cornhusker sports programs are finding success. The pressure is on Matt Rhule to quickly turn things around and prove he was the right choice to lead the storied football program back to prominence.