A midseason shakeup in Lincoln
November 7, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. Central
Nebraska Cornhuskers head football coach Matt Rhule took swift and decisive action on Saturday morning, firing offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen less than 24 hours after a 24-13 loss to Illinois deepened the team’s late-season tailspin.
The dismissal ends Holgorsen’s tenure in Lincoln after just nine games. Nebraska opened the season with high expectations and a flawless 5-0 record, fueled by an offense averaging more than 31 points per contest. However, four consecutive conference losses—during which the Cornhuskers failed to score more than 17 points in any game—prompted Rhule to overhaul the coaching staff before Nebraska’s postseason hopes evaporated completely.
In a formal statement released by the athletic department on Saturday, Rhule took personal accountability for the team’s decline while explaining the immediate staff change.
“Like so many of you, I am angry, I am disappointed and I am frustrated with our results this season,” Rhule said. “As the head coach, I am ultimately responsible for every aspect of our program—including wins and losses—and it is my responsibility to make changes when they are warranted. While there are many areas that need improvement, our offensive plan and execution is simply not working. Earlier today, I relieved offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen of his duties.”
From 5-0 surge to offensive drought
The abrupt termination highlights one of college football’s sharpest offensive drop-offs this season. Early in the year, Holgorsen’s dynamic Air Raid concepts seemed to have unlocked Nebraska’s passing game, generating big plays and positioning the program inside the national top 25.
However, Big Ten defenses quickly adjusted, taking away deep options and exploiting lingering pass-protection issues. Over the past four weeks, Nebraska’s offensive output ground to a virtual halt:
Against Illinois on Friday night, the Cornhuskers managed only 284 yards of total offense, surrendered four sacks, committed two costly turnovers, and converted just 3 of 13 third-down attempts. The defeat dropped Nebraska to 5-4 overall (2-4 in Big Ten play), leaving them needing one win in their final three games to secure bowl eligibility.
Holgorsen, 55, arrived in Lincoln with an accomplished head coaching resume, having led West Virginia from 2011 to 2018 and the University of Houston from 2019 to 2023. His sudden exit underscores the immense pressure facing Rhule to deliver a postseason breakthrough in his third year at Nebraska.
Glenn Thomas takes over play-calling
With three games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Rhule announced that co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas will assume primary play-calling duties immediately.
Thomas brings extensive coaching experience, having served as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Baylor, and Temple, as well as an offensive assistant in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. Thomas worked closely with Rhule at both Temple and Baylor, giving him deep familiarity with Rhule’s preferred tempo, physical ground game, and game-management philosophy.
Nebraska will have an extra day of preparation following Friday night’s game before hosting Michigan next Saturday in Lincoln.
Reaction on X
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