Rumors about Matt Rhule’s contract extension at Nebraska are stirring quite a bit of buzz. Along with the buzz is a whole lot of speculation that the news is false. The talk suggests the HC has signed a new deal extending his stay beyond 2030. The deal bumps his salary up to $8.5 million in 2025, with a maximum bonus of $950,000. It’s a major boost from his 2023 pay of $5.5 million. But while the Nebraska fans are carrying their relieved faces, a former Cornhusker legend with $7.2M career earnings at the NFL isn’t actually buying that stock.

Will Compton, former Nebraska linebacker and now a vocal booster, instantly capitalized on the false news about Matt Rhule’s extension. “Husker Nation, just got off the phone, I can tell you with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that Coach Rhule has not signed an extension,” Compton posted on X. “Hopefully that shit changes tomorrow, Go Big Red.” As per the 36-year-old, the deal is not official. But he is hoping that it is done at the earliest, as there are proper reasons for that. Rhule’s original contract, signed back in 2022, was an eight-year deal worth $74 million; it would have peaked around $12.5 million by 2030.

But then, this extension places him 15th among the highest-paid college football head coaches nationwide. He also pockets nearly a million in bonuses, with a $150,000 bonus already paid out this season. This reward his ole based on Matt Rhule’s knack of turning around a program. For example, at Temple, he took a team that went 2-10 in his rookie season and transformed them into conference champs. That kind of turnaround earned him a jump in pay from around $650,000 to over $1 million at Temple.

Then at Baylor, after a brutal 0-8 start, he pulled off enough magic to guide them to bowl games and lifted his salary north of $4 million by 2019. Now at Nebraska, his first season ended 5-7. Sure, it’s not eye-popping, but progress for a program that hadn’t cracked four wins since 2019. Plus, Compton wanting Rhule to get all the respect and finances at Nebraska speaks volumes. In 2024, Rhule’s team made a tangible leap to a 7-6 record, capturing Nebraska’s first winning season since 2016. They even won the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College, their first bowl victory since 2015.

This success was reflected in the team’s unbeaten record against non-conference opponents and a top 25 ranking that reached as high as No. 22. Matt Rhule has been candid about past shortcomings. He pointed out that many close losses came simply because they “weren’t good enough.” The focus has been on turning those nail-biters into decisive wins. That’s why this season’s 6-2 record so far makes the need for a contract extension much more validating for the coach. On top of that, Nebraska AD Troy Dannen also keeps his faith in Rhule by fighting the doubts against him.

“Because if you don’t do it right — if you don’t do the steps right — that 15 will be 20 for our fans,” Dannen said about the program heading in the right direction. “And it’ll be some other A.D. and some other coach here trying to do it and trying to sell you. But I think we have a really good plan. I think we’re in a really good place. I wish it were as easy as flipping a switch.”

Happy Valley is far out of reach now

Now, Will Compton’s cry to Lincoln to make the false news about the extension true is in place. But alongside that speculation, Matt Rhule’s landing at Happy Valley buzz is as good as over. Rhule’s name was buzzing a lot around Penn State after James Franklin got the boot. Plus, being a Penn State alum, folks naturally wondered if Rhule would come back to Happy Valley and take the reins. But that dust settled because of the contract extension news.

The hefty $12.5m extension makes Rhule’s jump back to Penn State nearly impossible. For Penn State, this means the coaching search just got tougher. But as a matter of fact, Penn State actually dodged a bullet. Penn State just fired a coach who went 128–60. So significantly, why would they turn around and allow a guy who’s only 18–15 at Nebraska and 65–58 overall? It doesn’t really make sense, right?

But Matt Rhule wasn’t the only hot-shot candidate for the Nittany Lions. Hoosiers’ Curt Cignetti stands out as the hometown saviour Penn State fans have been craving. Then there’s Dabo Swinney. Despite a rough season at Clemson, his two national titles and motivational firepower speak louder than anything. Ed Orgeron brings a physical, swagger-filled brand of football, known for his 2019 LSU national champion culture. And lurking in the background is Jon Gruden, a Super Bowl-winning coach with plenty of baggage.