Matt Rhule takes issue with Nebraska's future opponents: 'Don't schedule them' | Sporting News

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  Sports and Competition on Thu, Sep 11th, 2025 by Sporting News

Nebraska’s New Coach Matt Rhule Raises Concerns Over Future Scheduling

In the months following his historic hiring as Nebraska’s 44th head football coach, former Carolina State and NFL defensive coordinator Matt Rhule has turned his attention to a problem he says could threaten the program’s future: the reluctance of other teams to schedule Nebraska in the coming seasons. The issue is not simply that the Cornhuskers are set to play a tough slate of games, but that they are, in Rhule’s view, not being invited to play by the very teams that would give the program the exposure and recruiting boost it desperately needs.

The “Don’t Schedule Them” Comment

Rhule first made his comment in a candid interview with the Sporting News on March 12, 2024. The 48‑year‑old, who took over a program that had missed the last four BCS bowl games and has a 21‑21 record under former coach Scott Rice, said, “When I sit down with my staff and look at the schedule for 2025 and 2026, I keep seeing that we’re not being asked to play against the teams that could help us move forward.” He added that many opponents are choosing to “schedule teams that they think will give them the edge in the standings,” a practice that leaves Nebraska in a difficult spot.

The implication is clear: because Nebraska is perceived as a “safe” target—especially early in the season—other programs are avoiding them. This means the Cornhuskers might be stuck playing lower‑tier teams or the “B‑team” squads that only get one chance a year to host a high‑profile non‑conference game. Rhule says that’s not a sustainable strategy.

Why It Matters

A football schedule is more than just a calendar; it is a recruiting tool, a revenue generator, and a statement about a program’s direction. The Cornhuskers are currently on the cusp of a new era in the Big Ten, a conference that recently unveiled a new scheduling model that gives teams more freedom to arrange cross‑division games. Yet even with that flexibility, Rhule worries that the program’s perceived lack of quality will keep it from attracting high‑profile opponents. “We’re not getting the kind of teams that give us exposure to the national audience, and we’re not getting the kinds of teams that bring in the best recruits,” he told the Sporting News.

The coach pointed to the fact that recruiting pipelines have become increasingly competitive. High‑profile non‑conference matchups—especially those that pit the Cornhuskers against a top‑20 opponent in the early season—are now a key factor for top recruits when they decide whether a program is worth their commitment. If Nebraska is left with mostly “easy” opponents, the talent level it can attract will suffer.

The Current 2024 Schedule: A Mixed Bag

Rhule acknowledged that the 2024 schedule is already quite strong. Nebraska is set to face the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan—teams that regularly compete for national titles. He also noted that the Cornhuskers will play two non‑conference opponents: the University of Missouri (an in‑state rival) and a neutral‑site game at the “National Football League’s “Lombardi Stadium” against a top‑10 team (the Sporting News article linked to the 2024 schedule). While the Big Ten schedule is grueling, Rhule said he was hopeful that the success in those games would start to change the narrative about Nebraska’s competitiveness.

“We Need to Make Them Want to Play Us”

To counter the scheduling dilemma, Rhule said the first step is performance. He is already implementing a new defensive scheme that he claims will produce “more wins than we’ve seen in the last decade.” “When you put a win on your record, teams see that. They see that we’re a team that deserves to play them,” he said. He also added that the athletic department will look into expanding the non‑conference schedule by negotiating games with other power‑conference teams.

“We can’t just wait for them to come to us,” Rhule said. “We have to be proactive—book a game with a top‑10 opponent, maybe in a neutral site. We can also schedule a marquee opponent from the SEC or the ACC that will make us a desirable opponent.”

Reactions From Fans and Stakeholders

Nebraska fans, long used to the “cursed” label that has plagued the program for years, have been quick to note that Rhule’s concerns are legitimate. A supporter on the “Nebraska Fan Forum” wrote, “If the Cornhuskers can’t get scheduled with the best, they’ll never be the best.” Others, however, are cautious. A former Nebraska player expressed uncertainty: “It’s a good sign that the coach is aware of the problem, but it takes a lot more than awareness to fix it.”

The athletic director, who had previously signed a multi‑year contract extension to keep Rhule on staff, issued a brief statement acknowledging the challenges but emphasizing the university’s confidence in the coach’s ability to “build a nationally competitive program.” “We believe that the hiring of Coach Rhule was the right decision, and we are committed to working with him to build a schedule that reflects the program’s ambitions,” the statement read.

Looking Forward

The Sporting News article ends with a note that Rhule is already drafting a schedule for 2025 and 2026. He admitted that the process will be iterative: “We’ll tweak the matchups as we go. It’s about balance—keeping the bowl‑eligible opponents but also putting in those high‑profile games that get people talking.” As the Cornhuskers prepare for the 2024 season, their coach’s candid admission that they are “not being scheduled by the teams that could help us move forward” will remain a key storyline—one that underscores the growing importance of scheduling strategy in the modern college football landscape.