Heading into the 2025 season, expectations for the Nebraska football team are sky high. The Huskers are expected to be bowl-bound yet again, while potentially competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. This may make two things true simultaneously. Head coach Matt Rhule is safe and sound and not on the hot seat, while he's moving a bit closer to seeing the pressure ramp up.
CBS Sports has compiled its annual list of every college football coach and their respective seating arrangements. The publication helpfully laid out what coaches were rated last year as a comparison. The ratings range from 0-0.99 (untouchable), to 1-1.99 (safe and secure), to 2-2.99 (all good ... for now), 3-3.99 (pressure is mounting), to 4-4.99 (starting to improve now), to 5 (win or be fired).
Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule earns 2.11 rating in CBS Sports hot-seat index
The good news for Rhule is that he was given a 2.11 rating. That puts him squarely in the "all good ... for now" category. While it would still take the Nebraska football team falling far short of expectations for him to move up and feel any real pressure, he has already moved up the charts from the summer of 2024.
In fact, there aren't many coaches who have seen as big a jump. Considering that before last season, despite yet another 5-7 season in his first year in Lincoln, he was rated as a 1 overall. That means he's transitioned from a "safe and secure" situation to one where he needs to at least be cautious.
The ratings jump makes sense considering Rhule is entering his third season at Nebraska, and the expectations that the Huskers could compete for the playoffs will add some tension.
The long and short of it is that Matt Rhule is hardly sitting on a hot seat. But that reality is getting closer and closer to arriving for the Nebraska football program. Living up to expectations will go a long way in keeping the seat cool.