USA TODAY Sports unveiled its latest Big Ten head‑coach rankings on Monday, a list that has placed Nebraska’s Matt Rhule at No. 9, a steep descent from the No. 5 spot he held a season ago.
The rankings arrive despite a promising start for the Cornhuskers, who opened the 2025 campaign with a 6‑2 record and secured a bowl berth for the second straight year.
Trench battles shape Rhule’s future
Yet the final five games of the season left a sour taste, as the team’s performance in the trenches deteriorated and raised questions about Rhule’s trajectory heading into his fourth year.
Analyst Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports emphasized that the line of scrimmage will be decisive, noting that the offensive line allowed 112th‑worst sack totals and the defense ranked 98th against the run, surrendering 175.4 yards per game.
Running back Emmett Johnson, who finished fourth nationally with 1,451 rushing yards, remains a bright spot, but the overall unit must improve if Nebraska hopes to climb the charts.
The schedule does not ease, with the Huskers set to open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium against Ohio, a matchup that could further test Rhule’s adjustments.