Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule just made a move in an attempt to fortify his team’s chances to uncork a better campaign in 2026 and possibly win it all. On Sunday, Dec. 6, Pete Thamel revealed on his X/Twitter account that Rhule and the Cornhuskers program have hired San Diego State Aztecs defensive coordinator Rob Aurich.
Aurich now becomes the Cornhuskers’ newest main defensive tactician, as Rhule and company are trusting him to call Nebraska’s defensive schemes. Aurich is coming off helping coach Sean Lewis’ Aztecs to finish the 2025 campaign with an overall record of 9-3 (6-2 Mountain West). He is set to replace Nebraska’s former defensive coordinator, John Butler, for the role.
Sources: Nebraska has agreed to a three-year deal to make San Diego State’s Rob Aurich the school’s next defensive coordinator. San Diego State finished No. 5 in scoring defense this year at 12.6 ppg, an improvement from up from No. 97 last year at 29.6 ppg. pic.twitter.com/cgf0CRb5zl
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 7, 2025
College football fans online turned their attention to coach Rhule, as they are not too keen on his most recent attempt to bolster his staff.
“Nebraska, what are you doing? Once again, you need to hire coaches with Big Ten experience. Rhule is really trying to get fired,” one user pointed out.
“Such a disappointing hire, doesn’t make any sense with the resources at his disposal,” another user shared.
“He did all this in the mountain West right. Not even in the same breath of the Big Ten. Rhule is fired next year,” a user posted.
Other X users said they are not impressed that Aurich is now the new defensive shot-caller for the Cornhuskers.
“He plays in an easy conference. We should’ve went after a proven P4 coordinator,” one fan said.
“It’s all fine and dandy until they play Big 10 teams,” another user claimed.
“I don’t get it,” another wrote.
“Terrible hire,” a user asserted.
Before Aurich and the Cornhuskers move forward with their three-year deal, the Aztecs still have a game left in this year’s season. They are set to face coach Eric Morris’ North Texas Mean Green in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 27. The game will be played in the University Stadium (NM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Matt Rhule And The 2025 Nebraska Cornhuskers Have A Bowl Game, As They Did Not Make The Playoffs
Despite not representing the Big Ten conference in the 2025 college football playoffs, coach Matt Rhule and the rest of this year’s Nebraska Cornhuskers still have a game in their postseason schedule.
The Cornhuskers are up against coach Kyle Whittingham’s Utah Utes for the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on the final day of the year at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Read More: ‘Wish Nothing but Misery for Him’: Fans Left Frustrated As Matt Rhule’s Nebraska Struggles Against Iowa After $25M Worth Contract Extension
Also Read: San Diego State 2025 Football Schedule: Full List of Aztecs’ Opponents, Dates, and Key Matchups
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