Matt Rhule wants all the smoke and after Nebraska's embarrassing 40-16 loss at home to Iowa, he deserves it.
Nebraska's promising season has come to a crashing half over the past two weeks with the Cornhuskers being outscored 77-26 by Penn State and Iowa respectively. The Cornhuskers finish the regular season losing three of their past four and Rhule knows it's not good enough.
"I'm mad"
— Chase Matteson (@ChaseMatteson) November 28, 2025
While there has been progress in the program Matt Rhule understands the fans frustrations after the #Huskers drop their final 2 games of the regular season.
(@1011_News, @kevinsjuts) pic.twitter.com/fQS1mcblWd
The players deserved better results
One of Rhule's big messages during his post-game press conference was that the players didn't deserve any negativity that might be coming from frustrated fans. That point is certainly hammered home with the emotion that running back Emmett Johnson showed after rushing for over 200 yards.
"I understand that times like this can be a little bit negative and I have to say honestly that should all be directed at me."Matt Rhule
Johnson's incredible effort in a blowout loss speaks to the kind of season it was for Nebraska. At times, it felt like the Cornhuskers were really close to something big — the road win at Cincinnati to open the season and going 5-1 through the first six games. But the reality is that 7-5 is not good enough and fans have to wonder where the improvement is from last season.
Rhule has to start winning in November
The difference between the good teams and the also-rans is what happens in November. When the weather gets colder and the games get tighter, that's where the cream usually rises to the top. This is a challenge for Rhule, who frankly has not been good in these late October/November games.
Matt Rhule is 2-10 in November at Nebraska after this 40-16 loss to Iowa at Memorial Stadium.
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) November 28, 2025
"I’ll be the first to say that that’s unacceptable," Rhule said of the defeat. "I certainly understand how that feels to all the great fans we have."
More from Rhule: "We want to be a…
Nebraska is all-in on Rhule. The administration has put their full support behind him, and they believe that he is the guy that will get the Cornhuskers to the top of the Big Ten and back in the national conversation. Blowout losses to Minnesota, Penn State and Iowa can no longer be part of the DNA if things are going to change around Lincoln.
There are plenty of questions to be answered in the offseason, including the future of quarterback Dylan Raiola. Nebraska fans will understand if tough decisions have to be made, but they will not continue to accept 7-win seasons. Not when they know what the Cornhuskers program is capable of.