Matt Rhule's name is already red hot for Penn State: 'Won't be much of a search'

A few weeks ago, when James Franklin was first mentioned as being on the hot seat, some Nebraska football fans refused to believe that Matt Rhule could be a real candidate to replace him. Well, buckle up, buttercups, because now that Franklin has been officially fired, the Huskers' head coach is already at the top of many hot boards.

A quick check of the usual suspects shows several On3 industry analysts believing the job could come down to either Matt Rhule or Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. Some believe Marcus Freeman is in the mix as well. Ole Miss's Lane Kiffin and Clemson's Dabo Swinney have been thrown around as well.

However, one national analyst believes Penn State's coaching search won't be much of a search. CBS Sports' John Talty thinks this whole thing will begin and end with the Nebraska head coach.

"To me there is one name that this search starts with and that's Matt Rhule at Nebraska," Talty said in a recent segment on the CBS Sports Network. "I have already talked to multiple people who expect that there is a very good possibility that Matt Rhule will be the next head coach at Penn State."

Let that sink in for a minute or two. This isn't "his name was mentioned," this is "he's going to be the guy."

Talty went on to lay out the usual rationale that Rhule is a Penn State alum, but also pointed out he's been told the Huskers' head man has a close relationship with Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft.

"It's early, so I want to be careful how I say this," Talty continued, "But there are people in this industry who believe that this will not be much of a search. That this is going to begin and end with Matt Rhule."

The reporter finished his report by saying he believes that Matt Rhule has had his eye on Penn State for a while now, and there's a strong affinity from both sides.

What Nebraska football fans have to hope, if they don't want to have to go through yet another coaching search this winter, is that Matt Rhule's affinity for Lincoln and the Cornhuskers program is as strong as it seems from the outside looking in.

He's talked just this year about how he might be done moving around. How he wanted to set down roots in Lincoln. But that's something plenty of coaches have said right before they took another job.

Rhule has always been a journeyman. Should he be in Lincoln next year, it would equal the longest he's ever been at one place as a head coach. He also tends to take the next job up the ladder rung. As much as NU fans would love to believe Penn State isn't a move up the ladder, it is.

There are plenty of reasons why Nittany Lions fans might fight against Rhule. He doesn't have a win against a Top 25 team yet with the Huskers. He entered this season with a career 12-13 record. Year 3 is going well, but the ceiling still feels like a 9-3 regular season record.

Rhule has also already had to replace several of his hand-picked assistants. Quite a few, in fact, for a coach being talked about as "the guy" at one of the premier programs in college football.

On the other hand, Penn State isn't a lock for a bowl game this season as they sit at 3-3. Kraft may believe the program needs a top-down rebuild, and Matt Rhule is known as the guy who does that very well.

Nebraska football fans might want to believe that the only fallout from Penn State's loss of their starting quarterback and head coach in the span of 24 hours will be a better chance to win at Happy Valley next month. But things are going to be tense in Lincoln for the next few weeks. Anyone who doesn't think Matt Rhule's leaving is a genuine concern is fooling themselves.