Is Matt Rhule Bringing Nebraska Back? Massive Transfer Portal Moves Give Glimmer of Hope
Nebraska football has been in a slow and painful decline for over two decades. Once the gold standard of college football, the Cornhuskers have seen their national prominence wane, unable to reclaim the glory years of the 1990s under Tom Osborne. Enter Matt Rhule, the man tasked with reversing the tides and making Nebraska relevant again. While Rhule’s hiring was met with cautious optimism, it’s his savvy moves in the Transfer Portal that have sparked a glimmer of hope, leading some to wonder: Could Nebraska really be on the cusp of returning to its former greatness?
To say that Nebraska has underachieved in recent years is an understatement. The Cornhuskers haven’t won a conference title since 1999 and have been stuck in mediocrity since joining the Big Ten a decade ago. After several failed coaching tenures—most notably under Bo Pelini, Mike Riley, and Scott Frost—the program found itself desperately searching for an identity. That’s when Rhule, who had successfully turned around downtrodden programs at Temple and Baylor, was hired in 2022.
Rhule’s reputation as a program-builder precedes him. He’s known for his ability to develop talent and foster a winning culture in places that were once considered football afterthoughts. At Baylor, he resurrected a team coming off a scandal, guiding them to a Big 12 Championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance. Rhule’s arrival in Lincoln was seen as a breath of fresh air, yet the real question was: How quickly could he turn the ship around?
In the past, Nebraska’s struggles could be attributed to a lack of elite talent—recruits weren’t flocking to Lincoln, and the program had a tough time keeping up with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin in the Big Ten. But Rhule, with his sharp eye for talent, has aggressively addressed the issue through the Transfer Portal. Nebraska’s movement in the portal has been a key aspect of Rhule’s early success, attracting top-tier athletes looking for a fresh start.
The 2024 offseason was a pivotal moment in the program’s revival. Rhule and his staff brought in several high-impact transfers, from seasoned veterans to highly-rated young talents, filling gaps across multiple positions. One of the most notable acquisitions was former Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna, who had shown flashes of brilliance during his time with the Gators. Kitna’s decision to join the Cornhuskers provided a much-needed upgrade at the quarterback position, a spot that had plagued Nebraska for years.
Additionally, Nebraska secured a top-notch wide receiver in Brock Bowers from Georgia, a rare move for the Cornhuskers to land a playmaker from a perennial national title contender. Bowers’ physicality and speed immediately injected an explosive dimension to Nebraska’s offense, which had been known for its conservative, run-heavy attack in recent seasons.
Even on defense, Rhule’s portal success was apparent. He snagged Trey Monroe, a defensive lineman from LSU, who brings NFL-level potential to a unit that had long been pushed around in the Big Ten trenches. This infusion of talent across all phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—has created a sense of excitement and possibility that hasn’t existed in Lincoln for years.
However, it would be naive to claim that these moves alone will guarantee success. The Transfer Portal has its risks, and many teams who invest heavily in it fall short of expectations. Rhule’s success will ultimately depend on how well these new players mesh with returning talent, the development of young recruits, and his ability to build team chemistry in a high-pressure environment. Critics argue that relying on the portal for instant fixes rather than fostering organic development could lead to a program that’s merely good enough, never great.
Yet, there’s no denying that Rhule’s strategy has rekindled excitement in a fanbase desperate for relevance. The once-proud program now has a renewed sense of direction, thanks in large part to the aggressive, calculated approach Rhule has taken with the Transfer Portal. For the first time in years, there is a tangible sense of optimism about Nebraska’s future.
The road back to national relevance won’t be easy, and there will undoubtedly be setbacks along the way. But if Rhule can continue to capitalize on the portal and blend it with homegrown talent and disciplined coaching, Nebraska could very well find itself in the hunt for a Big Ten title sooner rather than later. Whether Matt Rhule is the man to bring Nebraska back to its former glory remains to be seen, but the hope is back—and that, in itself, is progress.
