Matt Rhule isn't going anywhere. The Nebraska football head coach signed a new contract extension on Thursday that will keep him with the Huskers for an additional two years.
Pete Thamel was the first to report the deal made official after earlier rumors started floating around Wednesday night that he'd agreed to a new contract. What stands out as most interesting, beyond the fact that he's now off the market, is that the deal shows a head coach who, when he said he loved Nebraska and wanted to stay, wasn't just talking the talk, but he also walked the walk.
Nebraska football keeps Matt Rhule in a very team friendly deal
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— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) October 30, 2025
Rhule's new deal, according to Thamel, adds two more years to the contract that was due to end in 2030. However, according to Thamel, this new agreement isn't giving the Nebraska head coach any kind of massive pay boost. At least not right away.
The innovative deal instead adds heavy incentives for Rhule to get the Huskers to the playoffs. Every time Nebraska makes the College Football Playoffs, his base salary will increase by $1 million through the life of the contract.
In other words, should Rhule guide his squad to the CFP this year, his base salary for 2025 will go from the current $7.5 million to $8.5 million. Next year, his base salary (which already jumps to $8.5 million automatically) will increase to $9.5 million.
If Rhule makes the CFP again in 2026, another million gets tacked onto whatever he was due to make. Considering Rhule was already set to see a significant raise already built into his deal through 2030, should he get Nebraska to the playoffs, he'll still make a healthy chunk of change.
However, by agreeing to a deal that also puts him on the hook for a $15 million buyout should he leave, the contract is one that allows Rhule to stay in Lincoln with the chance to make more money without being guaranteed if NU struggles.