Matt Rhule has experienced a mixed record in college road games as a head coach. Across three teams, he has led his teams in 51 true road games, securing 22 victories against 29 defeats. Rhule’s journey in college football continues this Saturday when his Nebraska Cornhuskers face Maryland in their first official road game of the 2025 season.
Upcoming Road Challenge for Nebraska Cornhuskers
Maryland enters this matchup with an impressive 4-1 record, showcasing strong performances, particularly on home turf where they stand at 3-1. The situation presents a unique challenge for Nebraska, as they will be playing before a crowd that will predominantly support the home team. This will be a stark contrast from the friendly environment at Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium.
Rhule’s Road Game Record at Nebraska
Since Matt Rhule took over as head coach, Nebraska has participated in just 10 true road games, resulting in a modest record of 2-8. The statistics highlight a difficult trend for Rhule at Nebraska:
- Overall record: 16-14
- Road game record: 2-8
- 2023 road record: 1-4
- 2024 road record: 1-4
Big Ten Road Performance
In his tenure within the Big Ten Conference, Rhule has managed a 2-7 record in road games. Notable victories include:
- Defeated Illinois 20-7 in 2023
- Defeated Purdue 28-10 in 2024
However, the majority of his losses have been in close contests, with six out of seven defeats being decided by a single possession. The losses include significant matchups against:
- Minnesota: 13-10 (2023)
- Michigan State: 20-17 (2023)
- Wisconsin: 24-17 (2023)
- Colorado: 36-14 (2023)
- Indiana: 56-7 (2024)
- Ohio State: 21-17 (2024)
- USC: 28-20 (2024)
- Iowa: 13-10 (2024)
Previous Coaching Experience
Before joining Nebraska, Rhule had stints at Temple and Baylor, where his road records were more favorable. At Temple, he had a 13-12 record in away games, including two successful seasons with a 5-2 record in 2015 and 4-2 in 2016. At Baylor, he managed a 7-9 away record, concluding with an impressive unbeaten streak of 5-0 in his final season, 2019.
Head Coaching at Carolina Panthers
Rhule’s journey took him to the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, where he ended with a record of 11-27 over two seasons and five games. His away performance was below par at 6-12 before his dismissal in 2022.
Home Advantage in College Football
Statistics from Sports Illustrated highlight the significant home-field advantage in college football. Over the past decade, home teams have won approximately 64% of their games. This underscores the challenge that awaits Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the road against Maryland.
With remaining road games at Minnesota, UCLA, and Penn State this season, Rhule’s ability to shift the team’s fortunes on the road will be crucial for their success.
