The honeymoon is over for Matt Rhule, Nebraska football

After another inexplicable loss by Nebraska football on Friday night — as more than a touchdown favorite in a game the Huskers didn’t trail the entire second half — I hear plenty of people talking about how Matt Rhule needs more time.

What time do you think he needs, Nebraska football fans?

Trust me, Rhule has had plenty. You don’t get the luxury of a three-year rebuild in college football anymore. That’s not how it works. You get one season as a honeymoon and Rhule has had his.

If I see one more post about how Rhule hasn’t had enough time to fix the mess Scott Frost left, I might get physically ill. It’s just an excuse and not a very good one.

Rhule has had more than enough time to “fix” Nebraska football

Plenty of coaches have taken over failing programs and turned them around quickly. Jim Harbaugh took a Michigan program that was a dumpster fire in 2014 and won nine games. In two seasons, Michigan went from giving away free tickets to being a play away from the College Football Playoff.

And that was before the transfer portal was even a thing. There was enough talent in the building for the 2023 Nebraska football team to make a bowl game. It didn’t. That’s on Rhule and so is the loss on Friday night.

The same old issues plague Huskers

After spending an entire offseason focusing on winning close games, Nebraska failed miserably in another one. Dylan Raiola was spectacular. Yes, he had some “freshman” moments, but the Huskers lose that game by double digits without him.

What’s disappointing is how Rhule spent all offseason talking up a defense that he said had a bunch of guys that should be playing on Sundays. Yet on Friday, I didn’t see one once Tommi Hill was injured.

The linebackers got exposed. So did the defensive line and the secondary. The offensive line was bad and there wasn’t enough depth on either line, which after two years, is the fault of one man: Matt Rhule.

Special teams are still a failure. Nebraska football missed a 39-yard field goal to take the lead. It also had four drives that started inside the 40 and netted three points, not to mention allowing far too many return yards.

Sounds a lot like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.

The only thing that’s improved this season has been the quarterback play. So thank the lord Dylan Raiola wanted to come to Nebraska. But outside of that, you have to strain way too hard to see progress.

16 games in, Nebraska football is 8-8 under Matt Rhule. It has lost six one-score games and many of the issues that plagued this program under Scott Frost, are still plaguing this program.

Take that for what you will but frankly, it’s not good enough.

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