Matt Rhule removes Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen

Matt Rhule Shifts Nebraska Offense After Four-Game Slide

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has officially removed Dana Holgorsen from his role as offensive coordinator, a decision confirmed on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The move follows a 24-13 loss to Illinois on Friday, a result that extended the Cornhuskers’ losing streak to four games. With the program’s offensive production grinding to a halt, Rhule has turned to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas to assume play-calling duties for the remainder of the season.

Nebraska has fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Statement from coach Matt Rhule: “Like so many of you, I am angry, I am disappointed and I am frustrated with our results this season. As the head coach, I am ultimately responsible for every aspect of our…”

— https://x.com/mitchsherman/status/2119127323018670170

The timing of the shakeup is particularly striking. Just five days prior to the announcement, Rhule had publicly described Holgorsen, a former head coach at West Virginia and Houston, as “one of the best offensive minds of our generation.” Yet, as reported by Fox News, the reality of the team’s on-field performance necessitated a reversal of that stance.

The stakes for the program are high. After opening the season with a promising 5-0 start, Nebraska has failed to find its footing, averaging just 13.5 points per game during its current four-game skid. According to USA Today, the team’s offensive output has been so stifled that it has negated a stout defensive effort, which has surrendered an average of only 19.5 points over that same span. For a fan base accustomed to high expectations, the frustration is palpable.

A Pattern of Stagnation and Penalties

The numbers behind the decision are stark. In the loss to Illinois, Nebraska managed to score on only two of its nine possessions. When looking at the broader picture, the Cornhuskers have converted just nine of 46 possessions into points over their last four outings. This lack of efficiency has been compounded by recurring issues with penalties, missed field goals, and, increasingly, questions regarding the strategy on the field.

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Holgorsen’s tenure as coordinator had been relatively brief, dating back to his promotion in November 2024 after he initially joined the staff as an offensive consultant. His departure follows a similar mid-season shuffle that saw his predecessor, Marcus Satterfield, moved to a different role. Despite the turnover, the offensive inconsistency has persisted.

“Like so many of you, I am angry, I am disappointed and I am frustrated with our results this season,” Rhule said in a statement. “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.”

The Road Ahead for the Cornhuskers

While Rhule acknowledged Holgorsen’s leadership and offensive acumen, he emphasized that the current plan was simply not yielding results. Critics of the staff had pointed to specific tactical decisions, such as the heavy reliance on passing plays during a 17-10 loss to Washington, where quarterback Anthony Colandrea attempted 44 passes while the running game was largely sidelined.

Matt Rhule removes Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen — Photo: wfmd.com

The decision to pivot now suggests that Rhule is looking to salvage the final stretch of the season rather than wait for the offseason to begin the evaluation process. As Nebraska prepares to travel to New Jersey for a matchup against Rutgers, the pressure remains on the coaching staff to restore a sense of offensive identity.

Husker head coach Matt Rhule removes Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator

“I will continue to evaluate our program through the season and certainly at its conclusion and make additional changes where I believe they will help us win,” Rhule added. The coach remains hopeful that the fan base will continue to support the players as the team attempts to close out the year on a higher note.

For a program that experienced the highs of a 5-0 start, the sudden descent into a four-game losing streak serves as a reminder of the volatility inherent in modern college football. Whether the change at the coordinator level provides the spark needed to reverse this trajectory remains the central question for the Cornhuskers as they head into the final weeks of the 2026 schedule.