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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Five days after publicly defending Dana Holgorsen, Matt Rhule has made a change at offensive coordinator.
Nebraska reportedly fired Holgorsen on Saturday following its fourth consecutive loss. Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas will take over play-calling duties for a team that has slipped from 5-0 to 5-4.
“Simply, we need a change,” Rhule said.
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“Like so many of you, I am angry, I am disappointed and I am frustrated with our results this season.”
The decision followed Friday’s 24-13 loss at Illinois, another game in which Nebraska moved the ball but struggled to finish drives.
The Huskers outgained the Illini 426-376, committed 11 penalties for 82 yards and failed on three fourth-down attempts.
Nebraska has scored 54 points during its four-game losing streak, an average of 13.5 per game. That follows an opening five-game stretch in which Holgorsen’s offense averaged 43.6 points.
Rhule had resisted calls for a coordinator change earlier in the week. On Monday, he described Holgorsen as “one of the best offensive minds of our generation” and said he was “steady in the boat” when discussing his staff.
Nebraska instead tried changing Holgorsen’s vantage point. He moved from the sideline to the coaches’ box for the Illinois game, seeking a calmer environment to evaluate the offense. The adjustment produced another low-scoring performance and, a day later, a different play-caller.
Holgorsen joined Nebraska in November 2024 and coordinated the offense for the final four games that season before returning full time.
The former West Virginia and Houston head coach was in his second full season with the Huskers.
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Thomas brings a long working relationship with Rhule to the assignment. They previously coached together at Temple and Baylor, where Thomas helped develop quarterbacks P.J. Walker and Charlie Brewer. He also has coordinator experience at Arizona State and UNLV.
His immediate challenge is turning Nebraska’s possessions into points.
Against Illinois, the Huskers had advantages in total offense, rushing yards, first downs and time of possession. They still finished with only two touchdowns.
Nebraska has three regular-season games remaining and still needs one victory to become bowl eligible. Thomas inherits an offense that put the Huskers one win away more than a month ago and has yet to get them across.
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