Nebraska coach Matt Rhule removed offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen from his role immediately after a 24-13 loss to Illinois, shifting play-calling duties to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas. Rhule announced the change in a statement, acknowledging that the offense was not working as planned and that the results on the field fell short of what the program needs.
The move came only days after Rhule had publicly praised Holgorsen, which makes the decision a notable reversal for a staff that had recently defended its offensive approach. Nebraska has now scored just 54 points over its last four games and lost each of those contests, a stretch that has placed the team's direction under intense scrutiny. Rhule said the offensive plan and its execution were both failing, and he took personal responsibility for the results. He also made clear that further changes remain possible before the season ends.
Holgorsen had already drawn criticism for his approach in a 17-10 loss to Washington, where the Huskers appeared to step away from the run game and quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw 44 passes. The offense struggled to finish drives against Illinois as well, scoring on only two of nine possessions. Across the last four games, Nebraska has found the end zone on just nine of 46 possessions. Penalties and missed field goals further undercut the team in the defeat to the Fighting Illini, compounding the problems that had been building for weeks.
Holgorsen arrived at Nebraska from TCU in November 2024 and was promoted to offensive coordinator about a week after joining the staff. To open that role, Marcus Satterfield was moved to another position within the program. Holgorsen's tenure in Lincoln, which began with the program looking to build momentum, now ends after roughly one season running the offense. The change leaves the Huskers with a play-calling structure built around Thomas, who already carried a dual role as quarterbacks coach.
The shakeup arrives as Nebraska prepares for its next game, a trip to New Jersey to face Rutgers. Thomas will call the plays in that matchup, and Rhule has signaled that the staff's response to the slump is not finished. For a team that has struggled to convert possessions into points over its recent losses, the decision reflects a coach willing to act quickly while the season still offers time to change course.