Matt Rhule's turnaround genius label is on trial
Context
The show still respects the Temple and Baylor work that created the label, but Nebraska has not matched that arc. Two straight 7-6 seasons, defensive-staff churn, Dylan Raiola's exit/injury context, and a changed transfer-portal landscape make the old reputation less useful as a live explanation.
Year four is the fair test. Rhule has Anthony Colandrea, a veteran offensive line, Dana Holgorsen, and enough returning production to make progress plausible. The problem is that "turnaround genius" now has to be earned inside a harder Big Ten and a sport where Curt Cignetti reset the public patience curve.