Huskers swap out Dana Holgorsen after sloppy loss to Illinois

Nebraska football lost its offensive coordinator following a 24-13 defeat to Illinois on Saturday. Head coach Matt Rhule let Dana Holgorsen go and named Glenn Thomas as the interim replacement. The decision comes as Husker fans grow frustrated with a program that continues to spend on talent and coaching changes without seeing improved results on the field.

The offense has struggled badly since a loss to Indiana earlier this season. According to Max Olson, Nebraska held a 17-6 lead in the fourth quarter of that game. Since then, the team has scored only 37 points over 39 offensive drives. The Huskers entered the Indiana game ranked third in the Big Ten in points per drive. They now sit near the bottom of the conference in that stat.

Specific plays have drawn criticism. Against Illinois, the team faced a fourth-and-one situation. Nebraska chose to run a play with an empty backfield instead of using a larger formation. Fans and analysts argue that such complex choices add to the frustration when the offense is already struggling.

The defense has performed well in recent games. Illinois rushed for 84 total yards against Nebraska. One fake field goal resulted in a 29-yard gain. Excluding that play, the defense held Illinois to 55 rushing yards. However, the defense cannot carry the entire program every week.

Instability on the sideline is a major concern. Under Rhule, Nebraska has already gone through three offensive coordinators, three defensive coordinators, and four special teams coordinators. Adam Carriker, who hosts the Carriker Chronicles, questions how the program can build consistency with such frequent staff turnover. He notes that Rhule was publicly praising Holgorsen just days before the firing.

Bret Bielema previously warned that money alone does not buy wins. Nebraska has invested heavily in the program, yet the team is being outperformed by opponents it should be able to beat. Carriker compares offensive production under head coaches Scott Frost and Matt Rhule, particularly against Big Ten rivals. He argues that the lack of progress is a difficult but necessary conversation for fans.

Glenn Thomas now has the chance to turn the offense around. Nebraska still has games left on the schedule. Reaching eight wins is a key goal for the team to consider the season a success. That target will require a much stronger performance from the offensive unit in the remaining matchups.