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Matt Rhule promises improvement in 2026: ‘We didn’t come to Nebraska to go 7-6’
By David Wasson
Published:
Nebraska is one of the most storied college football programs in history, with 46 conference championships and five national championships on the ledger. But the Cornhuskers have hit on hard times in recent years, as back-to-back 7-6 seasons in 2024 and 2025 were the only over-.500 marks for Nebraska since 2016.
Huskers coach Matt Rhule wants to change that narrative in 2026. Appearing at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on Thursday, the fourth-year coach declared he wants to raise the standard in Lincoln.
“We have to earn back the respect,” Rhule declared. “We didn’t come to Nebraska to go 7-6. We came to compete for (the Big Ten title). Being with teams that won a national championship is inspiring. … We understand that we have to take a step this year.”
Rhule has delivered consecutive bowl trips for Nebraska in his second and third seasons, going to the Pinstripe Bowl in 2024 and the Las Vegas Bowl in 2025. But that is a far cry from the Cornhuskers’ heyday of 10-win seasons, Big Eight dominance and national championship berths under Tom Osborne.
Nebraska opens the 2026 season at home Sept. 5 against Ohio (Noon ET, FS1) and kicks off Big Ten play Sept. 26 at Michigan State.
An APSE national award-winning writer and page designer, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.