After the Nebraska football team blew out the Akron Zips 68-0 on Saturday, head coach Matt Rhule was clearly happy with his squad's performance. However, he made it clear that at halftime of the Huskers' home opener, he had some harsh words for his players.
At issue was that NU had some problems in the red zone on offense and a few busts on defense that almost allowed Akron to score a couple of points and ruin a game that Rhule clearly saw as a potential shutout. While he didn't go into detail, the Huskers' head coach did admit he "freaking lost it" in the locker room at halftime and let his players know why.
Nebraska football ready for next step after Matt Rhule's halftime speech
On Monday, the Nebraska football head coach's halftime speech "leaked" to former Cornhusker star Will Compton. It appears one of the players (or staffers) recorded the speech on a cell phone. Whether it was released intentionally by the staff or a player just really wanted the public to see it, the impact was the same. Rhule's speech showed why Year 3 has been the year that he turns things around.
The fiery diatribe showed an angry coach fans rarely see, especially in a win. Screaming at his players about almost allowing a field goal vs Akron.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule lit into his team at halftime on Saturday while the Huskers were beating Akron 33-0 👀
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) September 8, 2025
During his halftime speech, Rhule said, “It’s about time people say ‘I don’t want to schedule those guys anymore. I don’t want to play those guys anymore.’ And… pic.twitter.com/ARVYAaSeLN
"Maybe I just have a different standard. I don't like them moving the freaking ball at the end of the half. We're on the sideline (saying), 'They'll take a knee here. They'll run the ball," Rhule said in a video that was somehow "leaked" with curse words bleeped out.
"They don't fear you; they don't respect you enough yet. And if that sounds like coachspeak, then you have the wrong brain. They're dropping back against our starting defense. They're cutting our O-line at the end of the half."
"I told you shutouts are precious. We almost gave up our (effing) shutout. I want them freaking ... I don't want them to ever say our name again. That's the killer instinct I asked about," Rhule said just one week after trying to convince Nebraska fans that they should expect close games this year.
"We don't work hard enough to go take what you want?," Rhule asked. "Go take what you want."
It was the kind of speech that not only had Husker players running through walls, but fans as well. And it showed that while Rhule has continued to be careful about his words in public, he's clearly advanced beyond being ok with small mistakes by his players.
It was a speech that stands out in a long history of Matt Rhule speeches that have impressed. It showed that while the first two years were about building a culture and nurturing his guys to feel confident enough to do what they did to Akron on Saturday night.
Year 3 of the Matt Rhule regime has always been the real turnaround year. He's got a feel for how to do this. And it's hard not to expect the Nebraska football team to only get better from here.