Certainly, Matt Rhule has Nebraska poised for closure from numerous self-inflicted wounds. The firing of head coach Bo Pelini was arguably the biggest mistake. Since showing Pelini the door, Nebraska has been an abysmal College Football Betting program. On November 28, 2014, the Nebraska Cornhuskers rallied from a 24-7 deficit to defeat the host Iowa Hawkeyes in a spectacular 37-34 overtime win. Nebraska finished 9-3 overall, including 5-3 in the Big Ten Conference. It was the seventh consecutive season that Pelini won at least nine games as head coach while clinching a bowl bid.
College Football Futures 2024 Nebraska Cornhuskers
| Odds to Win National Championship: | +15000 |
|---|---|
| Odds to Win Big Ten Championship: | +8000 |
| Over/Under Win Total: | 7.5 |
2024 Nebraska Cornhuskers Full Schedule
- Aug. 31: UTEP
- Sept. 7: Colorado
- Sept. 14: Northern Iowa
- Sept. 21: Illinois
- Sept. 28: at Purdue
- Oct. 5: Rutgers
- Oct. 19: at Indiana
- Oct. 26: at Ohio State
- Nov. 2: UCLA
- Nov. 16: at USC
- Nov. 23: Wisconsin
- Nov. 29: at Iowa
2024 Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview
The sportsbook win at Iowa was inspiring in many ways. But none more so than being indicative of a team that loved and respected its head coach and refused to quit. Subsequently, athletic director Sean Eichorst fired Pelini. Next, he went to the opposite extreme and hired Oregon State coach Mike Riley, known as the nicest guy of all. Riley had a respectable record but made his bones in the Pac-12 and had no connection to Nebraska.
In a similar way to Frank Solich, who Pelini served as defensive coordinator in 2003, Pelini won consistently. Consider his College Football Betting win percentage of .713 compared to Solich’s .753. But like Solich, Pelini’s teams were unable to break through to a national championship. Pelini ranks third for all-time wins by a Nebraska coach, with Solich fourth.
To conclude, Solich was not able to consistently keep pace with the Big 12 elite. Pelini had the same problem, especially during Nebraska’s transition to the Big Ten. Hence, a Nebraska fan base used to the dominance of the Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne years felt more was possible and immediately demanded it.
However, Husker Nation quickly found out things could get considerably worse. They were about to get unimaginably bad. Nebraska was about to become a lower-ranked program than such mediocre entries as Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana, and Northwestern. Once upon a time in Nebraska, that was unfathomable. Yet, it quickly became a nightmare reality.
Following Riley, Nebraska’s favorite son, Scott Frost, soon returned home to save the program. The hire was hailed as the best of the coaching carousel cycle. Instead, Frost was an even bigger disappointment than Riley. While Bo Pelini won nine games per season like a clock, he also had his share of embarrassments and failures.
Perhaps firing Pelini was necessary, but the amateur hour hiring of his replacement was utter malpractice. In turn, Eichorst eventually paid with his well-deserved firing. He ranks with Pederson as the most reviled Nebraska AD in history. Say what you want about recently departed AD Trev Alberts. But his hiring of Matt Rhule was a masterstroke.
Nebraska football is on the cusp of healing from 20 years of mismanagement. In 2024, closure beckons for all concerned, and a new era of success is eagerly anticipated. Finally, the time has mercifully arrived for permanent healing.