LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule discussed the report of Special Teams Coordinator Mike Ekeler leaving the Huskers for a job at USC.
"If he doesn't want to be here, that is what it is," Rhule said on Sports Nightly on Friday night.
"I think this is a special place, I think this is a great place. But I also think that this is a place where, to get it done here, when there's a lot of people always looking at you, there's a lot of opinions, there's a lot of things, you better have guys that are in the foxhole with you. So if someone's one foot in, one foot out that's not my issue, that's their issue."
👀 Matt Rhule on Mike Ekeler: "He, obviously, has some decisions to make."
— Adam Krueger (@AdamKruegerTV) January 17, 2026
"If he doesn't want to be here, that is what it is."
"You better have guys that are in the foxhole with you & so if someone's one foot in, one foot out, that's not my issue, that's their issue." #Huskers pic.twitter.com/tl6SwxcSOP
A report came out Thursday night by CBS Sports that Ekeler was likely leaving Lincoln for the Trojans.
USC is likely hiring Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 16, 2026
Before Nebraska, was outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Tennessee. Had a previous stint as an assistant at USC in 2013. pic.twitter.com/S2k2pVf1Iy
Rhule also was appreciate of Ekeler's efforts at Nebraska to improve the special teams.
The head Husker also said NU's spring game will be on March 28th.
