Matt Rhule was quickly mentioned as a potential candidate for the Penn State head coach job after James Franklin was fired on Sunday, and you can probably guess how the Nebraska coach responded to the rumors.
Rhule was asked on Monday about Franklin being fired. He said he was sad to hear the news but that he prefers not to comment on job openings with other programs.
“I’m not going to talk about my contract here. … I absolutely love it here. I want to continue to take the steps needed to turn this place into a beast,” Rhule said.
Here's the important stuff from Nebraska's Matt Rhule on the PSU opening: "I’m not going to talk a lot about job openings when they come… I’m not going to talk about my contract here… I absolutely love it here. I want to continue to take the steps needed to turn this place…
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) October 13, 2025
Penn State is Rhule’s alma mater, so it was a virtual guarantee that he would be linked to the job in some way. Rhule played linebacker for the Nittany Lions from 1994-1997. He worked for the team as a volunteer assistant the next year, which was the start of his career in coaching.
Rhule said on Monday that he loves Penn State and noted that he met his wife there, but he said his experience at Nebraska has been nothing but positive.
“This is part of the deal. I’m the Huskers’ coach. This is a great job. … This a good thing. It hasn’t happened here in a while, but it’s going to happen,” Rhule said. “I’m here. I’m not a Cyborg. I have two little girls. I have a wife. I love it here. It’s awesome.”
More from Matt Rhule on the potential distraction of the opening at Penn State: "This is good. It’s way better than when I was in Carolina, and I was on the hot seat. Nothing has happened. The job’s open… This is part of the deal. I’m the Huskers’ coach. This is a great job……
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) October 13, 2025
Rhule is in his third season at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have improved each year under him. They went 5-7 when he was first hired in 2023 and then finished 7-6 and won the Pinstripe Bowl last year. Nebraska is off to a 5-1 start this season.
If Penn State is interested in Rhule, he will almost certainly entertain a conversation. Even if he is committed to Nebraska, it never hurts to use interest from another top program as leverage.
There is at least one other high-profile candidate who has also been linked to Penn State.
