Gophers Next Opponent Distracted by Coaching Rumors

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Matt Rhule
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Over the weekend Penn State fired head coach James Franklin. That’s notable because the Nittany Lions had National Championship hopes coming into the season, and that’s why star quarterback Drew Allar returned to school.

Fast forward to where we are now, and Allar is out for the season while Franklin is being paid more than $50 million to go away. That means a new coach must come in, and Penn State would like that to take place sooner rather than later.

Minnesota Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck would love that opportunity. If UCLA tempted him, then Penn State would have him rowing his boat to Pennsylvania by morning. It’s unlikely to happen for him, but the same can’t be said about Nebraska’s Matt Rhule.

Matt Rhule with an added distraction ahead of Gophers

On Friday night the Nebraska Cornhuskers are coming to Dinkytown for a game against the Minnesota Gophers. They enter as 5.5 point favorites, but that line doesn’t account for the distraction that head coach Matt Rhule being a key candidate for Penn State creates.

“I love Penn State. Met my wife there. My alma mater. Fan since I was born. I think, probably had a Penn State shirt when I was born. I love Pat Craft [athletics director]. I’m really sad to see coach Franklin go…I really respect James Franklin. Troy [Dannen – Nebraska athletics director] and I are in an unbelievable relationship too…But again, I love that place. I love Pat. I love James Franklin. I’m really sad that came to an end. I wish him the absolute best. I’m really happy here and I’m excited to get going this week on Minnesota.”

Matt Rhule

If the beginning of Rhule’s quote doesn’t set the stage for the bulk of it, then we aren’t being fed the same information. The Nebraska head coach would clearly love to head back to his alma mater, and a blank check certainly isn’t going to stifle that reality.

Nebraska faces the Gophers this week, and Rhule now has to be fielding calls about his willingness to jump while trying to stay prepared for his next opponent. Rhule also understands how these things work, and Pennsylvania native Curt Cignetti (Indiana’s head coach) will be next in line to be offered a limitless contract as well.

It’s a tough situation to be put in, and one that doesn’t help preparation to remain centered on what’s in front of you. Ultimately, the Nittany Lions football program isn’t worried about what’s going on at Nebraska.

At least for now, Nebraska’s Patrick Mahomes doppleganger Dyan Raiola believes his head coach is there to stay. We’ll see how much that is based in reality soon.

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