Due to his extension through the 2032 season, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has a unique college football betting opportunity for a much-needed reboot. Rhule can still transform Nebraska into a physical team with dominant offensive and defensive lines. However, after two years of everything revolving around keeping QB Dylan Raiola and his family appeased, the rest of the program is taking on water at an increased rate. Indeed, Matt Rhule is ripping his program back from those who have had too much influence over it.
To illuminate, Rhule fired offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, the uncle of Dylan, the 5-star recruit. Dylan made national headlines by reneging on his commitment to the Georgia Bulldogs to sign with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Correlate that Donovan’s unit regressed in three years and was never close to being dominant or effective inside the 10-yard line. Cause by the offensive line’s weaknesses, Nebraska ran annoying fade routes or hoped that star RB Emmett Johnson could get into the end zone by his own accord.
2025 Las Vegas Bowl Overview
On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will face the Utah Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. Kickoff time is 3:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.
Utah opened as a 13.5-point sportsbook favorite with an o/u total of 50.5.
Matt Rhule 2.0 Reboot at Nebraska
It was the second firing of the week by Rhule, who let defensive coordinator John Butler go on Monday.
As Rhule reasserts full command of his middling wannabe power program, the next College football odds question is what is to become of the Huskers’ starting QB? It would seem as if the firing of Dylan Raiola’s uncle is quite a tell, perhaps that the QB is already on his way out.
Dylan Raiola has indeed been, by all accounts, a model teammate and leader; the Nebraska offense has been a penny-and-nickel product. Because of the inconsistent play of his uncle’s unit, Dylan usually works the short routes called by offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. The results have frustrated fans who expected a prolific passing attack. After Dylan was sacked eight times at Minnesota, questions were raised regarding whether he took the sacks to protect his completion percentage for a future NFL resume.
Certainly, the offense and the conversation with Nebraska media revolve around Dylan. After backup quarterback TJ Lateef played well in his first start, a win at UCLA, many media members worried more about Dylan’s psyche. They were more worried about Dylan’s ego than they were glad about a Big Red Win.
However, most of this is Rhule’s fault, as he has bent over backwards to keep his prized recruiting flip and the Raiola family appeased.
A Funereal Tone
Last Wednesday, at his press conference, the normally preachy, positive salesman Matt Rhule was at his most somber. The funereal tone was impossible to miss. It was the demeanor of a man who knows the honeymoon is over and that he is now officially on the clock.
Rhule is wasting no time getting down to business on building a program his way after wasting three valuable years. The vow of toughness and physicality is nowhere to be found. Accordingly, three years with no gains on the physicality part of the culture is maddening. It seems Rhule is angry with himself for not being himself and is making up for lost time. It is an impressive counterattack.
Matt Rhule is taking full advantage of a rare second bite at the Big Red apple. Because of that extension to prevent him from leaving for Penn State, Rhule got a second shot that few coaches ever gain.
There will be more to come with what is expected to be an assault on the transfer portal and potentially more staff changes. Indeed, the current Matt Rhule is tougher, smarter, edgier, more ruthless, and determined. He has his commanding presence back.