Nebraska Relieves Holgorsen of Offensive Duties

Coach Matt Rhule removed offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen as the Cornhuskers search for answers after a four-game losing streak.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football

Empty college football field with white yard lines leading toward a steel stadium rim under warm low sunlight, with a bare sideline bench in the foreground. — Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule removed offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen from play-calling duties Saturday after the Cornhuskers dropped four straight games following a 5-0 start. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule relieved offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen of his duties on Saturday, handing play-calling to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas for the rest of the season. The move follows a four-game losing streak after the Cornhuskers started the season 5-0.

Why it matters

Rhule said the offensive plan and execution are not working, and that the current results call for a different approach. The change signals that offensive inconsistency, a recurring problem during the skid, has pushed the staff to shift responsibility within the program.

Nebraska started the season 5-0 before losing four consecutive games. Thomas takes over play-calling for the remainder of the season, while the team's offensive results remain the central question.

The players

Matt Rhule

Nebraska's head football coach, who oversees the program's coaching staff and made the decision to remove Holgorsen from his role.

Dana Holgorsen

Former Nebraska offensive coordinator, a veteran college football coach known for offensive schemes and coaching stops at multiple programs.

Glenn Thomas

Nebraska co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who now calls plays for the rest of the season.

The details

Rhule announced the change in a program statement, saying he would continue evaluating the team through the season and at its conclusion. He also said he will make additional changes where he believes they will help the Cornhuskers win.

Start of season: Nebraska began 5-0.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Holgorsen relieved and Thomas given play-calling duties.
Rest of the season: Thomas handles play-calling.

Season Trajectory

The change comes as Nebraska's undefeated start has given way to four straight losses, shifting the team's playoff and standings outlook. Reassigning play-calling mid-season is a recurring tactic for programs trying to salvage a season after a losing skid.

Thomas taking over play-calling changes the offensive decision-making for the rest of the season, which will matter for anyone tracking Nebraska's fantasy or betting outlook. The remaining schedule will show whether the adjustment reverses the four-game losing streak.

The takeaway

Mid-season staff changes often signal that a program sees a problem in its current approach rather than in individual results. Watching whether the offense's production improves under Thomas over the next several games will show whether the change addressed the root issue.