The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Former Panthers coach Matt Rhule learned that lesson the hard way this week, as so many in his profession have before, getting fired in Carolina shortly after the start of the 2022 season following an unsuccessful attempt to make the leap from college to NFL. 

Rhule’s story is not unique and it’s not a big mystery. The pro game offers more money, more exposure, bigger rewards and a chance at the most coveted prize in sports – a Super Bowl ring. But the NFL is a different beast and Rhule never even showed glimpses of sustained success, compiling an 11-27 record in just more than two seasons. 

His seat was hot to start the season and it wasn’t shocking to see Rhule fired after a 1-4 start in 2022. His hatchet-man reputation forged from two remarkable turnarounds after taking over at Temple and Baylor didn’t translate to the NFL, for whatever reason. 

Rhule’s name is likely on shortlists for most, if not all, current openings, with the potential for even more intriguing suitors down the line depending on how the dominos fall the rest of the season. 

RELATED: Next Carolina Panthers Head Coach Odds

Matt Rhule Next Coaching Job Odds

This hypothetical college football betting market is for entertainment purposes only and does not reflect any market that may be available on betting sites and betting apps.

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Matt Rhule's Next Move: A Return to His Roots?

Rhule’s best move now is to go back to what he does best on Saturdays, and in that regard the Panthers actually did him a favor by parting ways so early in the season. Five coaching searches are already underway at Nebraska, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin and Colorado, meaning Rhule can get a jump on the landscape right away. 

He’s an attractive option for several teams looking to rebuild. He flipped Temple from 2-10 in his first year to 20-7 in his third and fourth seasons. Then he took Baylor from 1-11 in Year 1 to 11-3 just two seasons later before heading to Carolina. 

RELATED: Next College Football Coach Fired Odds: How Long Will Harsin Last?

Potential CFB Landing Spots For Matt Rhule

As far as potential rebuilds go, few would be sweeter for a head coach than Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have the resources, history and support to compete for championships. And they just cut ties after a futile attempt from former UCF coach Scott Frost. 

Rhule would have to be high on Nebraska’s list as a proven college coach who will get things moving in the right direction. It’s a high-pressure job with big expectations from the start, but a successful resurgence in Lincoln would come with the biggest rewards. 

Georgia Tech is another school in the hunt that will certainly take a long look at Rhule after firing coach Geoff Collins. It’s an ugly situation right now with a Yellow Jackets team that hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 2018, but there’s no sense of urgency. Rhule could take his time to dig in and follow the Temple/Baylor playbook, presumably with a very long leash. 

The true wild card right now is Wisconsin. The Badgers fired Paul Chryst having grown unsatisfied with consistent, above-average results. That’s understandable from a program perspective, but it puts potential replacements in a different situation with more urgency and loads of pressure. 

And unlike other teams going with lame-duck interim coaches, current Badgers head man Jim Leonhard is a legitimate candidate to land the full-time job. Wisconsin’s performance the rest of the way in 2022 will have a big impact on the situation in Madison. 

Arizona State and Colorado are also on the hunt having already cut ties with former coaches Herm Edwards and Karl Dorrell. Rhule doesn’t have any significant ties to either program, but he’ll take his time with the process and could see an opportunity for another potential rebuild. 

Most expect the Auburn job to open up by the end of the season as well, perhaps in the coming weeks. Like Nebraska, the Tigers can pay up and expect to compete for championships immediately. Whether or not Rhule thinks he’s up for it could depend on just how much they’re willing to pay. 

As for the long shots in our college football futures market, the domino effect could see Iowa State coach Matt Campbell move on from the Cyclones and take another job with the right opportunity. Rhule is obviously familiar with the program after three years at Baylor and could stick with the Big 12, but this is still a relatively out-there scenario. 

If Rhule could have his pick, Penn State would be the obvious choice. Rhule starred at State College High School and played linebacker for the Nittany Lions in college. Unfortunately, James Franklin just signed a new 10-year contract worth $70 million and it doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere at the moment.   

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