'Our Job Is Friday Night': Holgorsen Weighs In on Rhule's Candidacy for Penn State

Dana Holgorsen is a veteran when it comes to being in the middle of head coaching searches.

After a number of assistant positions, Holgorsen went to West Virginia, initially as the coach-in-waiting before taking over immediately. He would leave the Mountaineers to become the head coach at Houston several years later. Since being fired by the Cougars in 2023, his name has been attached to numerous openings.

Dana Holgorsen has been a head coach at two schools, but seems to thrive at being able to focus on running an offense, like he's doing in Lincoln. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

On Tuesday, he was asked about how Matt Rhule, who is one of the most talked about potential replacements for James Franklin at Penn State, has handled the last 48 hours.

"He's a pro at it," Holgorsen said. "It's just part of the profession."

Holgorsen added that the coaching staff and the team are focused on the task at hand, which isn't whether or not a coach is up for another job.

"Our job—he feels the same way—our job is Friday night, trying to get our team ready to go play Minnesota," Holgorsen said. "If you're thinking about anything else other than that, you're doing your team a disservice. I promise you, he's not."

Matt Rhule spoke Monday about his love for Penn State, a place that he grew up loving, eventually played at, and where he met his wife. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

As for Holgorsen, his name was attached to the Oklahoma State opening earlier this year, a place where he was a coordinator in 2010. The Cowboys fired Mike Gundy after three games into his 21st season in Stillwater.

"I haven't talked to my agents about anything," Holgorsen said. "I'm not going to."

You can watch the full media session from Tuesday below. Continue scrolling for more coverage.

Coverage

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Husker247 | Hits from Holgorsen: On Emmett Johnson being his kind of back, Raiola's performance, stingy Gophers
Omaha World-Herald* | A screen play is showing a new side of Nyziah Hunter — and his teammates
Omaha World-Herald* | How Dylan Raiola steps off the third-quarter struggle bus into a fourth-quarter sports car
Omaha World-Herald* | Kenneth Williams' gradual climb pays off with a scholarship
Omaha World-Herald* | Dana Holgorsen, John Butler reflect on Maryland win, wary of Minnesota test
Omaha World-Herald* | Dylan Raiola and Dana Holgorsen react to Matt Rhule and Penn State speculation
Lincoln Journal Star* | Dane Key unbothered by his stats: 'I'm on a winning football team'
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From the Other Side

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Minnesota On SI | Can Gophers take advantage of Rhule-Penn State rumor distraction?
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More Info

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
Sep. 6 Nebraska 68, Akron 0
Sep. 13 Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
Sep. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Oct. 4 Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27
Oct. 11 Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
Oct. 17 (Friday) at Minnesota 7 p.m. FOX
Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern TBA
Nov. 1 vs. USC TBA
Nov. 8 at UCLA TBA
Nov. 22 at Penn State TBA
Nov. 28 (Black Friday) vs. Iowa 11 a.m. CBS

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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