Tensions Rise for Matt Rhule as Nebraska OL’s Father Pressurizes HC to End Program’s 13-Year Drought

Everything is in place for Matt Rhule to take Nebraska to a level it hasn’t been in quite a few years. A 10-win season? A possible trip to a championship? Both of these are well within reach. Rhule and the Huskers just have to run their plans with precision. Nebraska’s roster for this season looks better than it has in the recent past. This is the time for Rhule to take the bull by the horns and win the duel. Because if he falls short, the responsibility rests squarely on his shoulders.

At Rhule’s previous head coaching stints, it was always the third time that had the charm. At Temple, Rhule went 10-4 in his third year. Baylor? 11-3 in Year 3. At Nebraska, the trend is very close to following that same pattern. He won 5 games in his first, 7 in his 2nd. Can he push that number to 10 this year? The Huskers still have a very slight possibility of shocking everyone and possibly advancing to a National Championship game. But a playoff spot is very likely, and so is a Big 10 championship game. That’s what Nebraska’s elite OL Rocco Spindler’s father, Marc Spindler, a former DL for the Detroit Lions, said about his expectations for his son’s new home.

Spindler said in a discussion at The Average Joe Sports Show, “He [Rocco] is there to win a Big Ten Championship. You don’t leave Notre Dame, play for a National Championship, get all that exposure, just to go to a school and take a step backwards.” Rocco alone adds a dangerous amount of power to a Dylan Raiola-led offense. Pro Football Focus records the OL taking 1,325 snaps in 2024. In another stellar feat, Rocco allowed no sacks in 402 plays that same year. All of these achievements in the bag make the OL a high-value recruit. The question is, can Rhule give him the competition he’s worthy of?

“He [Rocco] is there to win a Big Ten Championship. You don’t leave Notre Dame, play for a National Championship, get all that exposure, just to go to a school and take a step backwards.”

Check out our full Sunday morning chat with Rocco Spindler’s dad, Marc!

https://t.co/7N4qUVKNLQ pic.twitter.com/rmGdCWSelF

— The Average Joe Sports Show (@ajsportsradio) May 25, 2025

Matt Rhule had his share of criticism after a shaky finish in 2024. Dylan Raiola started to falter towards the end of the season. Had Rhule not brought in Dana Holgorsen as the OC, he was heading towards a poorer finish than that 7-6 record. The offense this year looks better than before, with veterans Justin Evans, Henry Lutovsky, and Gunnar Gottula returning. This is a high-calibre team that has a good shot at competing for a berth in the Big 10 championship title–a feat Lincoln hasn’t seen in 13 years. That Huskers team, under 5th-year HC Bo Pelini, made it to 10 wins in 2012.

Matt Rhule is an HC who always has a unique approach in mind for his team. Recently, he said that he wants Dylan Raiola and the veterans to take up the leadership roles when the staff lays back after a tough period of off-site recruiting. Also, he proposed playfully that the playoff bracket should be widened to 40 teams–an idea that seems bizarre, yet still one that carries some logic.

40 teams in the playoff? Sounds reasonable to some point.

“Make that thing 40 and let’s go.” That’s what Rhule thinks is an ideal playoff bracket. Programs are already in trouble with their regular-season schedules. And Rhule here wants to play 40 more games. “That’s kind of got to be a joke, right?’ I don’t know if that’s a joke, I don’t know if Matt Rhule is joking about wanting 40 teams in a playoff.” Blake Ruffino said on his show. J.D. PicKell said that he needed some time to process this comment. Because 40 postseason games are going to take the life out of the guys in charge of it.

I love Matt Rhule and I don’t like this at all. Let me sit with this for a while. Need some time. https://t.co/CBSJA9cHsS

— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) May 21, 2025

Matt Rhule insists the idea is based on fairness. “We’re playing in a really, really tough league. We’re playing really, really good teams. And you know what? If you play in this league, you deserve a chance to get to the postseason and see what you can do,” Rhule said. Nebraska isn’t a program that has brand or impact, like that of Ohio State and Michigan. Sure, they have brands like Adidas as sponsors, but the hegemony is college football just works that way. The more flashy teams, the more attention. 40 playoff spots mean that Rhule will have time. Time to develop his program, and be on a level worthy of competing with the blue bloods, and get the same amount of attention.

For now, Rhule has to work with 12 playoff spots. And though a far lesser number than what he wanted, he has the means to make it to one of those 12 slots. Also, his schedule is not as difficult as last year’s. With a more-than-ready Dylan Raiola and a primed O-line with Rocco Spindler, can Rhule attempt to end at least the 13-year championship berth drought for Nebraska?

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