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NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

Matt Rhule, Penn State Football

Matt Rhule Leverages Penn State Interest into Massive Nebraska Extension | Contract Details

Robert ShieldsPenn State Coaching Search, Penn State Football

For the second time this coaching carousel, a top candidate for the Penn State Football head coaching job has signed an extension to stay with his current school.

Within a week of the Penn State job opening earlier this month, Indiana signed Curt Cignetti to a massive extension to keep him in Bloomington. This time, long considered the favorite for the Penn State job, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule signed an extension Thursday to stay in Lincoln.

Penn State Football, Matt Rhule
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule could be a top candidate to replace James Franklin as Penn State Football’s next head coach. (Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images)

Matt Rhule’s New Nebraska Contract Details Revealed

Per Pete Thamel, Matt Rhule’s extension will run through the 2032 season and include a $15 million buyout if Rhule was to take another job this offseason.

According to Thamel, Rhule’s salary will increase from his 2025 salary of $8.5 million to $12.5 million for the two years of the extension.

In a little over two and a half seasons at Nebraska, Rhule has compiled an 18-15 record and has the Cornhuskers at 6-2 this season.

Inside Matt Rhule’s Penn State Connections

Rhule has long been seen as the favorite for the Penn State job because of his personal relationship with Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft, going back to their time together at Temple.

Rhule has a history of turning around struggling programs.

In just three seasons, Rhule was able to improve Temple from two wins in 2013 to 10 wins in 2015. Again at Baylor, Rhule was able to coach the Bears from 1-11 in year one to 11-3 with a Sugar Bowl appearance in year three. Through eight games in year three with Nebraska, Rhule already has more wins than his first season in 2023.

Penn State Football, Pat Kraft
Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft is leading an expansive search for the Nittany Lions’ next head coach.

The knock on Rhule has always been the same as what Penn State was getting rid of with James Franklin, that he can’t win the big game.

Since his time at Temple, Rhule is 0-18 against top 25 opponents. His lone two wins over ranked opponents came during his time at Temple against #19 Navy and #24 Wake Forest.

While Rhule was long considered the favorite for the job, many Penn State fans saw Rhule as a backup plan for if Kraft missed on other top targets. Penn State has been casting a wide net of top coaches, former head coaches, and up and coming coordinators in Kraft’s search to find James Franklin’s replacement.

With the “backup plan” Rhule officially off the table in the search, Penn State fans must hope that one of the bigger fish on Kraft’s board hits.

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Robert Shields
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