Potential Penn State head coach target Matt Rhule signs extension with Nebraska
One of Penn State’s potential targets for its head coach opening has signed an extension with his current school. Nebraska announced Thursday morning that head coach Matt Rhule has signed a contract extension with the program that will last through 2032.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the buyout for Rhule to leave this offseason will be $15 million.
It remains to be seen if that buyout amount will be enough to deter Penn State if athletic director Pat Kraft decides he is the best candidate and if Rhule wants the job.
The Cornhuskers are 6-2 this season and will play USC on Saturday in a game that could define the rest of their season. They need to win out to have any chance of making the College Football Playoff — but at the same time, getting to 10-2 would make Rhule a much more feasible candidate for a program like Penn State.
Rhule has an 18-15 record at Nebraska in two-plus years, but has a history of his third year being the turnaround year with college programs. He went 8-16 in his first two years at Temple before going 10-4 and 10-3 in his final two years. He then went 8-17 in his first two years at Baylor before going 11-3 in his third year.
He’s revived the Nebraska program after it hadn’t even reached bowl eligibility since 2016 — something he’s already reached with the Huskers at six wins this season.
Rhule and Nebraska will travel to State College later this season to take on Penn State in Beaver Stadium on Nov. 22.
