We are finally within just days of witnessing the Matt Rhule pattern in action. He’s the embodiment of “third time’s a charm.” Year one is rough; he’s basically performing surgery on a program. Year two shows glimpses of what’s coming. But year three? That’s when the magic happens. Temple went from 2-10 to 10-4. Baylor jumped from 1-11 to 11-3. Now, Nebraska sits at that same crossroads with Dylan Raiola settled in as their quarterback and a bowl appearance in the rearview mirror. 

But here’s where things get interesting, and it’s not what you’d expect. While everyone’s focused on Dana Holgorsen’s offense and Dylan Raiola’s development, Rhule just dropped some serious insight about the travel roster for the Cincinnati game. And honestly? It tells you everything about what he’s building in Lincoln and why this season might actually be different.

When asked about travel logistics, Rhule said, “I wanted us to be unbelievably honest. So, you know, 74 is the Big 10 limit. We’ll probably get to like 80, you know, especially with some injuries.” This is cultural engineering. Think about what he’s really saying here. You either earn one of those 74-80 spots, or you don’t. This is psychological warfare against mediocrity. When players know exactly where they stand, it eliminates the guesswork and forces accountability. Rhule’s willingness to exceed the official limit for injured players shows he values contribution over technicalities, but the core message is to earn your spot.

The second part of his approach reveals even more about his leadership philosophy. He said, “And then on game day, we’re going to bring down the rest of the team. Every guy on our team has worked really hard. I’d like them all to be there and have this experience.” Now you’re seeing the full picture. Rhule’s creating accountability through the travel roster selection, but he’s not leaving anyone completely behind.

Even guys like Blye Hill and Gage Stenger, who are on crutches, get to experience the big stage. It’s brilliant psychology; you feel the sting of not making the initial cut, but you still get rewarded for your commitment to the program. This builds long-term culture while maintaining short-term standards. Players understand the hierarchy, but they also know their work matters regardless of their current status.

What Matt Rhule is really doing here is keeping everyone engaged while maintaining competitive standards. His travel roster strategy creates a meritocracy with a safety net, exactly what Nebraska needs to rebuild its identity. The transparency eliminates the guesswork that breeds resentment, while the inclusion prevents players from feeling completely shut out. It’s championship-level leadership disguised as logistics. With Matt Rhule’s honest approach setting the tone and Raiola’s confidence driving the execution, Nebraska finally has the leadership combination that could end decades of frustration. The Cincinnati game is about proving this program has learned how to win the right way.

The tackle dilemma

Here’s the thing that makes Rhule’s travel roster transparency even more fascinating. While he’s being brutally honest about who’s making the trip, he’s still undecided on arguably his most important position battles. The left tackle spot remains a three-way battle between Gunnar Gottula, Turner Corcoran, and Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett, while the right tackle position is down to Teddy Prochazka versus Tyler Knaak. With less than a week until kickoff, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola is essentially saying these decisions will come down to game day itself. That’s either supreme confidence in having multiple viable options, or it’s one of those uncertainties that can derail seasons before they start.

What makes this situation particularly intriguing is how it contrasts with Rhule’s approach elsewhere on the roster. The interior offensive line looks rock solid with Justin Evans at center and proven commodities at the guard spots, but those tackle positions remain question marks. 

For a program that’s built its identity on offensive line excellence over decades, having five guys competing for two spots this late in the process feels both encouraging and terrifying. It’s encouraging because it suggests depth and competition, exactly what you want in a program building toward something special. But it’s terrifying because these are the spots responsible for protecting Dylan Raiola’s blind side and creating the running lanes that Nebraska needs to control games. 

Just like with the travel roster, he’s forcing players to earn everything right up until the moment it matters most. But there’s a difference between keeping guys honest about travel status and being undecided about your starting tackles six days before facing a Cincinnati defense that Rhule himself called “as formidable a front seven as we’re going to see”. If Nebraska’s going to make that third-year leap everyone’s expecting, these tackle spots need to get figured out, and fast. The travel roster might showcase Rhule’s transparency, but the offensive line depth chart reveals where his biggest gambles still lie