Nebraska has signed coach Matt Rhule to a two-year contract that will extend him through the 2032 season, the school announced Thursday.
The extension includes increasing Rhule's buyout this season from $5 million to $15 million, effectively eliminating his ability to take another job this cycle.
The happiness of Rhule and his family at Nebraska, where he is in his third year as head coach, was the primary driving force behind him agreeing to the new deal, sources told ESPN. Nebraska is 6-2 this season, and Rhule led the program to its first bowl game since 2016 last year. He often spoke about the potential of the program at Nebraska.
“The University of Nebraska, the City of Lincoln and the State of Nebraska are special. This is a place our family is proud to call home,” Ruhle said in a statement. “We have outstanding leadership from [Nebraska president] Doctor [Jeffrey P.] Gold and [athletic director] Troy Dannen and I appreciate the support and trust they have placed in our employees. We remain focused on building Nebraska football into a perennial championship contender.”
Rule was often linked to an open position at his alma mater. Penn State. And the extension essentially removes another big name from competing for eight energy conference jobs that were open this year.
The new agreement does not include any changes to base compensation. It does offer an additional base salary incentive if Nebraska makes the College Football Playoff. There is an innovative new clause in the agreement that states that every time Nebraska is eligible to participate in the CFP, Rhule's base salary for each year of the deal increases by $1 million.
Rhule's salary over the life of the deal was over US$11.7 million (including retention bonuses). That number puts him in the upper echelon of college coaches in the deal.
Rhule's two additional years are worth $12.5 million, matching the final year of his current contract in 2030. The deal remains 90% guaranteed.
Rhule is in the top 15 in salary this season with $8.5 million. Prior to the extension, the deal included significant escalators, as he will earn $11 million in 2027 (with a retention bonus).
The new agreement comes at a time when Nebraska is trending toward the program's best season in nearly a decade, as Nebraska has not made back-to-back bowl appearances since 2016. This 9-4 season under Mike Riley also marked the last year the Cornhuskers won more than eight games in a year.
“Coach Rhule has shown that he is the right leader at the right time for Nebraska football. We look forward to him and his family remaining in Lincoln for a long time,” Dannen said in a statement. “Our program has made significant progress under Matt's leadership, and at this point in the program's development, continuity and stability are critical. I welcome the opportunity to continue to partner with Matt and his staff in building a program that will make everyone associated with Nebraska Football proud. Go Big Red!
Nebraska hired Rhule in November 2022 after five straight losing seasons under Scott Frost. Rhule was fired by the Carolina Panthers earlier this year, but he has established himself as a college coach and program developer for both teams. Temple And Baylor.
While Trev Alberts hired Rhule to replace Scott Frost after the 2022 season, Rhule agreed to a contract extension under second-year athletic director Troy Dannen.
Rhule's resume includes an American Athletic Conference title at Temple in 2016 and a massive rebuild at Baylor that included an appearance in the Sugar Bowl after the 2019 season.
