Nebraska Fires Dana Holgorsen: What Offensive Coordinator Change Means for Huskers’ Bowl Odds and Matt Rhule’s Future
Matt Rhule fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen after a fourth straight loss. Here is what the move means for Nebraska's bowl chances, the Rutgers game and Rhule's job.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the Cornhuskers fell 24-13 at Illinois for their fourth consecutive loss. Quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas will take over play-calling duties for the rest of the season as Nebraska tries to salvage a year that began with five straight wins.
Nebraska (5-4) has not scored 20 points in any of the four games during the slide, producing 17, 14, 10 and 14 points in defeats to Indiana, Oregon, Washington and Illinois, respectively. Rhule announced the move in a statement, saying he was “angry,” “disappointed” and “frustrated” with the season’s results and that the offensive plan and execution were “simply not working.”
How a 5-0 Start Turned Into a Four-Game Skid
The Cornhuskers opened the season with five straight wins, including victories over Michigan State and Maryland, then watched the Big Ten schedule turn on them. The losing streak began on Oct. 10 when Indiana rallied late for a 20-17 win, and three of the four defeats have come by one score. Oregon beat Nebraska 17-14, Washington won 17-10 on Halloween, and Friday’s loss in Champaign made it four in a row.
The frustrating part for Nebraska is that the yardage has been there. The Huskers outgained Illinois 426-373 but committed 11 accepted penalties, and several drives stalled on the wrong side of midfield. Against Washington, Nebraska attempted 44 passes and ran just 29 times, a balance that drew criticism after the game. In Big Ten play, Nebraska is averaging 22.2 points per game, which ranks 12th in the conference.
Holgorsen, the former West Virginia and Houston head coach, joined Rhule’s staff in 2024 and took over as coordinator late that season when Marcus Satterfield lost his play-calling role. He was in the final year of a contract that paid him $1.2 million annually. Rhule had publicly defended him earlier in the week, which makes the quick turnaround notable.
Rhule’s Seat and Who Calls Plays Now
The firing shifts the spotlight squarely onto Rhule, who is 24-23 in his fourth season at Nebraska and has gone 2-10 in November games during his tenure. He received a contract extension in the offseason, and reports indicate the deal guarantees 90 percent of his salary through 2032, which makes any change at the top expensive. Rhule said he will keep evaluating the program through the season and at its conclusion, and that more changes are possible.
Thomas is a longtime Rhule associate who worked with him at Temple and Baylor and previously called plays at Arizona State. He is also well regarded by quarterback Anthony Colandrea and by incoming 2027 quarterback Trae Taylor. Nebraska’s offense now has only three regular-season games left to show it can function under new direction.
Remaining Schedule and the Bowl Eligibility Market
Nebraska needs one more win to reach six wins and become bowl eligible for a third consecutive season. The remaining schedule is Rutgers on the road on Nov. 14, followed by Ohio State and Iowa to close the regular season. Rutgers is 2-6 and is the most realistic path to the sixth win, while Ohio State and Iowa are far tougher assignments for an offense that has been stuck below 20 points.
No consensus sportsbook spread was posted for the Rutgers game at the time of writing, so bettors should watch for the opening number once books hang a line. Prediction market pricing this week gave Nebraska roughly a 79 to 82 percent chance of beating Rutgers, which signals the market still views the Huskers as a clear favorite against the Scarlet Knights despite the turmoil. Public model projections have also leaned toward Nebraska by double digits, though those figures are estimates rather than posted lines.
For futures and win-total bettors, the math is straightforward. A win at Rutgers would get Nebraska to 6-4 and bowl eligible, leaving the Ohio State and Iowa games as bowl-positioning contests rather than must-haves. A loss in Piscataway would put the postseason at real risk, since Ohio State looms next and the Iowa finale would become a potential must-win. One report framed the Huskers as hoping for a Pinstripe Bowl invite, a sharp drop from where the season stood a month ago.
The coaching-change market is worth watching as well. Rhule’s contract structure makes an in-season move unlikely, but how Nebraska finishes will shape the conversation about his job status heading into the offseason. If the offense improves under Thomas, the narrative flips toward a late-season recovery. If scoring stays below 20 points, expect the focus to move quickly from the coordinator to the head coach.
The first real read on whether the change works comes at Rutgers. Watch how Nebraska balances run and pass, how it handles penalties, and whether Colandrea looks more comfortable with Thomas calling the game. Those answers will drive how the market prices the Huskers for the rest of November.