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2w ago

Nebraska Extends Matt Rhule Through 2032 With $15 Million Buyout and CFP Escalators

A steep buyout plus CFP-triggered raises signal a retention-first strategy that removes the Penn State alum from this year’s coaching market.

Oct 11, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule walks on the field during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Overview

  • Nebraska announced a two-year extension for Matt Rhule that runs through the 2032 season, keeping his base salary intact while adding College Football Playoff incentives.
  • ESPN reported the buyout rises to $15 million this season from $5 million, a figure widely described as effectively taking Rhule out of consideration for other jobs in this cycle, including Penn State.
  • Sources detailed an innovative clause that boosts Rhule’s base by $1 million for every CFP berth across the life of the deal, with the contract 90% guaranteed and the added years valued at $12.5 million each.
  • Athletic director Troy Dannen cited program momentum—Nebraska is 6-2 in 2025 after reaching and winning a bowl last season—as the case for continuity.
  • With Rhule and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti off the market, reporting indicates Penn State’s search is shifting to other candidates such as Jeff Brohm, Mike Elko and Matt Campbell.