Similar to Illinois, Nebraska is another Big Ten team worth keeping an eye on as Matt Rhule enters his third season in Lincoln. Following a 7-6 season, the Cornhuskers are seeking to maintain momentum by returning to a bowl game and securing consecutive postseason appearances.
CBS Sports' Cody Nagel likes what Rhule has going for him entering his second stint with quarterback Dylan Raiola, who is expected to make a significant improvement after throwing 13 touchdowns a year ago.
"Rhule was able to end Nebraska's dreadful bowl drought in 2024 but still drops a spot in the Big Ten coach rankings with a 12-13 overall record with the Huskers. He's 10-6 from August through October but just 2-7 in games played November or later."
If Rhule can flip the narrative in Year 3, Nagel writes that the program's ceiling is limitless.
"Year 3 is when Rhule has historically flipped programs, and Nebraska's hoping that pattern holds as it pushes to become relevant in the Big Ten again," Nagel wrote.
The Cornhuskers' Rhule finished No. 9 in CBS Sports' coaching rankings, one spot below Minnesota's P.J. Fleck, who said Wednesday he is excited to see where the Cornhuskers can go this fall. Nebraska-Minnesota takes place in Minneapolis Oct. 17.
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"Matt has a clear path of exactly what he wants. We’re all as head coaches finding and striking for clarity and I think that’s one thing he clearly has,” Fleck told reporters during Big Ten Media Days. “He has a clear vision of what he wants to do and what it looks like. What the expectations are and how to get there. It’s a process-oriented coach and I think that’s gonna pay off.”
Nebraska and Minnesota may not be Big Ten blue bloods like Ohio State or Michigan, but each continues to establish its own identity as both coaches are arguably the right fits, respectively.
In a few months' time, we'll see who gets the better of whom. For now, only time will tell