The Indiana Hoosiers stunned everyone in Week 7 after they traveled to Eugene and took down Oregon on their home turf. The final score reads 30-20, but it doesn’t capture the full story of how Curt Cignetti beat Dan Lanning’s team. The hosts were outmatched, outschemed, and outphysicalled by a team aiming to prove that they’re legit. When you play like that, everyone takes notice, including the head coaches of your rivals. Nebraska HC Matt Rhule appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and gave the Hoosiers their flowers.

The praise for Indiana came in a discussion around how certain teams are often overhyped in college football based on who they are rather than how they play. “The poll at the start of the season has two teams at 1 and 2 who are in it anymore. Why even have a preseason poll?” Rhule asked.

More importantly, for a lot of AP voters, the big-team bias is still a factor. Notre Dame somehow was still ranked despite starting 0-2. “Before you vote in a poll, tell me how many times you have watched the Huskers play. Tell me how many times you’ve watched Indiana play.” Rhule added to his point.

That’s when Rhule addressed the Week 7 game between the Ducks and the Hoosiers. “That’s a great football team with an excellent quarterback; like, just give them their due,” said Rhule. Before they beat the Ducks, a lot of people were not ready to believe that Indiana was actually good. They didn’t have anything from this season to argue about. All we heard was how Indiana lost to Ohio State last year, and then Notre Dame beat them in the playoffs.

Cignetti didn’t need Rhule’s third-year charm to turn around Indiana. In 2023, the program finished 3-9. Cignetti was hired in 2024, and immediately, the program saw results. They finished 11-1 in the regular season and entered the playoffs after ages. This season, they’re 6-0, and it won’t be a surprise if they go undefeated in the regular season.

Despite Rhule’s praise, the reality is that a small blip, and the same voters who ranked Indiana No. 3 won’t hesitate to drop them out of the top 10, a treatment not meted out to other top teams. “But we’re still in college football, looking at the logos, looking at the perennial this, the last 10 that instead of people actually watching the ball,” he said.

Cignetti’s work at Indiana has attracted a lot of attention, especially after his roster beat Indiana. His name also appeared as a potential HC candidate for Penn State after the program fired him following back-to-back losses. But the head coach is fully committed to his program. “Our team knows that I have 100 percent commitment to developing this football team to its full potential,” he said, per On3.

Similarly, Rhule’s success at Nebraska and his past experiences at Baylor and Temple have showcased his exceptional coaching talent. He is another head coach who is popular for the Penn State candidacy.

Matt Rhule addresses the Penn State rumors

Recently, Rhule grabbed headlines after his name emerged among the potential HC candidate targets for the vacant HC position at Penn State. After three back-to-back losses, the program parted ways with James Franklin and is looking for his replacement. A Huskies alum who began his coaching career at the Nittany Lions as a volunteer assistant, Penn State AD Pat Kraft seems keen on bringing Rhule back to his alma mater. So, will the HC leave?

Rhule has not shied away from expressing his love for his alma mater. “I love Penn State; I love Pat Kraft,” he had said to the press earlier this week. But leaving Nebraska to coach another program? That is off the table. “Nebraska is a destination job, and I have a great young team,” he said in a conversation with Pat McAfee. “This is one of the greatest places in the world.”

He wants to remain at Lincoln and transform the Huskers into a beast. “This is a destination job that… should be a beast, and I think we’re making our way to doing that.” As of now, his team has had just one loss against Michigan, 27-30.