In a tumultuous offseason, Nebraska football might be facing its biggest loss yet.
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported Thursday night the Cornhuskers’ special teams coordinator, Mike Ekeler, was close to taking the special teams coordinator job at USC.
Ekeler’s impact was felt in his lone year leading Nebraska’s special teams. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Huskers’ special teams improved from 112th in college football in 2024 to 11th last season. Nebraska had 341 punt return yards to rank ninth nationally, with this year’s total exceeding the prior four years combined. The Huskers’ 780 kick return yards ranked fourth nationally and exceeded NU’s output for 2023 and 2024 combined. Nebraska allowed 23 punt return yards all season, and the Huskers’ field-goal operation was much more reliable than in recent years as well.
On the Zach Gelb Show Wednesday, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said that he offered Ekeler a “huge, huge, huge extension” to stay at Nebraska, with a pay boost that would have made him one of the top-paid special teams coordinators in the country.
The loss of Ekeler would be added to the departures of quarterback Dylan Raiola, running back Emmett Johnson and defensive tackle Keona Davis, among others.