Matt Rhule is no stranger to tough decisions, and his latest move proves it. As head coach of the Cornhuskers, he’s doing whatever it takes to keep his players safe from rival teams. Even with Nebraska’s spring football game being a major event in the sport, Rhule isn’t backing down. He’s canceling it. Protecting his team comes first, no matter the cost. Sometimes, the toughest calls are the most necessary.

Is Rhule right or wrong? Only time will tell, but this decision feels like a setback. According to a recent Locked on Big 10 YouTube video, “last year’s spring game drew over 60,000 fans.” That’s a massive crowd for a spring scrimmage. In fact, it was the fourth most-attended spring game of 2024, with only Ohio State, Alabama, and Penn State pulling in more. Rhule’s tough call might cost him some momentum.

Nebraska stands to lose around $600,000 in ticket sales from canceling the spring football game. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but Rhule has his reasons. His main goal? To keep rival programs from getting an up-close look at his players, making it harder for them to lure talent into the transfer portal. Rhule’s call might cost him some cash, but he’s thinking long-term—protecting his players from poaching.

Rhule stated, “The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.‘”

Rhule’s reasons go beyond just the money. The cancellation isn’t official yet, but it’s looking likely. After last year’s spring game, six Nebraska players hit the transfer portal. Rhule didn’t go into details, but he made it clear—some programs were offering his players serious cash after the exhibition. With that kind of pressure, Rhule isn’t taking any chances. “I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that. So you go out and bring in a bunch of new players and showcase them for all the other schools to watch? Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” said the head coach of the Huskers.

Conversely, the spring game provided the Huskers with an exceptional chance to fully assess the potential of freshman QB Dylan Raiola. However, Matt Rhule is more concerned about injuries. Last year, injuries sidelined wide receivers Demetrius Bell and Blye Hill for the entire season, prompting Rhule to take precautions. Protecting talent is key, but so is securing the future of his QB1. It’s a delicate balance—keeping his players safe while setting them up for success.

Dylan Raiola’s future message from Matt Rhule

The Cornhuskers always find themselves in the conversation for title contenders when a new season kicks off. But this year? The spotlight’s on Matt Rhule. He knows it’s all about demanding 100% from his squad. And leading the charge? Freshman QB Dylan Raiola. Rhule is putting his trust in Raiola to steer the Huskers back to greatness. With Raiola’s talent, there’s no telling how high they can go. The stage is set. Let’s see if the Huskers can rise.

However, Rhule took to the press to outline his vision for the offseason. His focus? His quarterback’s performance. He knows that achieving big goals starts with taking small steps. Every day counts. It’s all about building momentum, one play at a time. The Huskers are gearing up for greatness, and it starts with the QB leading the way.

“Before he can make it his team, I think he has to make it his offense. Before he makes it his offense, I think he has to make it his receiving corps. I went to the Supernova game last night, and he’s over there with Heinrich [Haarberg], and they’re sitting courtside, which is great, as long as you’re in the building this morning, throwing, which I know they were,” said the Huskers’ head coach.

Moreover, Matt Rhule mentioned, “That’s what I mean by gratitude. Like, ‘I’m grateful to be here, so because I’m grateful, it’s not that I say thank you. It’s that I work my tail off each and every day because I’m trying to get better.”

Now, with the Raiola era underway, the question is clear—can Rhule take Nebraska beyond 7-6 this year? The stakes are high, the talent is there, and the Huskers are hungry. It’s time to prove they’re built for more.