By Ty Scheiner
When Matt Rhule took over as head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, expectations soared. Rhule’s reputation for turning around struggling programs—most notably at Temple and Baylor—brought renewed hope to a Nebraska team that had seen its fair share of recent struggles. Known for his second-year success, the “Matt Rhule Effect” is already beginning to show in Lincoln. Early indicators suggest that Nebraska is on a path similar to Rhule’s past programs, with noticeable improvements already taking shape.
The Temple Transformation
Rhule’s coaching career truly took off at Temple, a program historically known more for its basketball than football. After a disappointing 2-10 record in his first season (2013), Rhule turned things around in his second year, leading the Owls to a 6-6 record. But it wasn’t just the win-loss column that saw a shift. Rhule brought a tough, disciplined, and physical style of play that became the foundation for future success. Temple’s defense became one of the top units in the American Athletic Conference, and Rhule’s attention to detail and player development started to pay off, resulting in two bowl appearances and a culture that could sustain success.
Rebuilding Baylor into Big 12 Contenders
After proving his blueprint at Temple, Rhule took on an even bigger challenge at Baylor in 2017, inheriting a program in disarray after scandal and player departures. A difficult 1-11 season followed, but, true to form, Rhule engineered a remarkable turnaround in his second year. The Bears finished 7-6 in 2018, including a victory in the Texas Bowl. Rhule’s ability to rebuild the culture—with a focus on accountability, discipline, and a relentless work ethic—was key to this quick resurgence. By 2019, Rhule’s Baylor team reached the Big 12 Championship Game, earned a Sugar Bowl berth, and he was named Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Signs of Success in Lincoln
Now in 2024, early signs of Rhule’s impact are already visible in Nebraska. After a rocky 2023, Rhule has brought discipline and focus back to a program plagued by inconsistency. Practices now emphasize the physicality and fundamentals that have defined Rhule’s past teams. He’s working to modernize Nebraska’s offense while maintaining their traditional physicality—a balance that led to success at both Temple and Baylor.
Building for Long-Term Success
One of Rhule’s standout strengths is his knack for recruiting and developing talent. Mike Farrell recently discussed this on Hurrdat Sports Radio, highlighting the importance of Rhule’s evaluation, development, recruiting, and overall culture building. At Baylor, he transformed overlooked players into NFL prospects, and he’s already making waves at Nebraska. The 2024 recruiting class, ranked in the top 25 by 247Sports, features highly touted QB Dylan Raiola. Rhule has also secured a commitment from four-star QB TJ Lateef for the next class. His focus on physical, tough, and coachable players is clearly paying off. The team is embracing his philosophy, and Rhule is once again proving his ability to unlock the potential in overlooked talent.
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The Road Ahead
Even though it’s early in the 2024 season, the “Matt Rhule Effect” is already taking shape for the Cornhuskers. Rhule’s impressive turnarounds at Temple and Baylor offer promising signs that Nebraska could be on a similar rise. If he keeps building on this progress, the Cornhuskers might soon become not just a competitive force in the Big Ten but also a national contender.
For Nebraska fans, the outlook is bright. With a 3-0 start and a big win over rival Colorado, the future under Rhule looks promising, and a return to prominence seems increasingly within reach.
