BREAKING NEWS: Former Nebraska Coach Scott Frost Sends Message to Matt Rhule Ahead of 2025 Season Rebuild

As the Huskers begin a crucial 2025 season, former Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost, who is currently the head coach at UCF (University of Central Florida), has reached out to current Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule with a message of encouragement—and caution. This unexpected and dramatic development has made headlines throughout the college football world.

Sources close to both teams report that Frost’s message was private but intensely emotional, reflecting his own turbulent time in Lincoln and expressing hope that, under Rhule’s direction, the Cornhuskers can at last regain their position among college football’s best.

During his time as Nebraska’s coach from 2018 to 2022, Scott Frost experienced both joy and sorrow. Frost, a former standout quarterback who guided the Huskers to a national championship in 1997, came back to Lincoln with aspirations of bringing the program back to its previous splendor. Rather, his tenure was tainted by close defeats, player turnover, and increasing fan and booster pressure. Early in the 2022 season, he was fired due to his total record of 16–31.

Frost is currently watching his alma mater from a distance, but not without passion, after two seasons of a successful turnaround attempt at UCF in the Big 12.

Nebraska’s current head coach, Matt Rhule, didn’t publicly comment on Frost’s message in full but briefly addressed it during a post-spring practice media availability.

Rhule, who took over the program in 2023 after stints at Baylor and the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, has already made major strides in Lincoln. After an up-and-down 6–6 season in 2024, the Huskers are being eyed as a dark horse contender in the new-look Big Ten, which now includes USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.

While both Frost and Rhule were brought in to revive Nebraska, their coaching philosophies and backgrounds are markedly different.

After leading UCF to an undefeated season in 2017, Scott Frost arrived in Nebraska as a “hometown hero.” Memorial Stadium was supposed to be electrified by his offense-first, spread-based scheme, but his reign was plagued by subpar execution, erratic quarterback performance, and defensive collapses.

Conversely, physicality, defense, and culture building have been the cornerstones of Matt Rhule’s coaching career. He used toughness, responsibility, and strategic recruiting to transform underperforming programs into contenders at Temple and Baylor.

According to reports, Frost acknowledged these disparities in his speech and hoped Rhule would receive the tolerance and support he thought he lacked.

Nebraska has been searching for its identity ever since joining the Big Ten in 2011. Once a powerhouse in the Big 8 and Big 12, the Huskers have suffered through losing seasons, coaching changes, and dwindling national relevance.

Frost’s homecoming was supposed to change that—but the burden of history may have proven too much.

Now, under Rhule, there’s a sense of cautious optimism. Spring practices have revealed a more disciplined, balanced offense, and a defense that could be one of the fastest in the Big Ten. The addition of dual-threat QB Jalen Daniels via the transfer portal has further boosted hopes.

Still, Rhule faces the same question Frost once did: Can you win big in Lincoln in the 21st century?

Reactions to the news of Frost’s message have been mixed across Husker Nation.

Some fans welcomed the gesture as a sign of maturity and class from Frost, whose firing left a sour taste in many mouths.

Others, however, were more skeptical.

UCF’s Perspective: Frost’s Redemption Arc

Meanwhile, at UCF, Frost’s return has been viewed as a redemption story. After a rough first season back in Orlando, he led the Knights to a 9–4 record in 2024, including a bowl win and a top-25 finish.

UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir told reporters that Frost has “matured as a coach” and “learned from his time in Lincoln.”

Even as he guides a new program, Frost reportedly continues to watch Nebraska games and remains emotionally invested in the team he once quarterbacked.

As summer workouts begin and fall camp approaches, all eyes will be on Matt Rhule and whether he can take Nebraska to the next level.

The 2025 schedule is brutal, with matchups against Michigan, USC, Penn State, and Iowa. But insiders say the team is closer than ever to turning the corner.

Rhule’s core message—“no shortcuts, no excuses”—has resonated throughout the locker room. And now, with Scott Frost’s symbolic gesture, a sense of continuity—rather than conflict—may finally be emerging in Lincoln.

Scott Frost’s message to Matt Rhule is more than just a note—it’s a bridge between eras, between failure and future.

It shows that even after disappointment, pride in the program endures. That even when dreams fall short, the mission continues. And perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that the legacy of Nebraska football isn’t defined by one coach—but by the shared belief that greatness in Lincoln is still possible.

As the 2025 season approaches, Matt Rhule carries more than just the expectations of fans and players. He now carries the quiet support of the man who once walked the same path—with all its pressure, promise, and pain.