Nebraska signs Rhule to an 8-year contract

After six straight losing seasons and more than 20 years removed from its 1990s heyday, Nebraska is turning to Matt Rhule to rebuild its football program and make it competitive in the Big Ten Conference.

Rhule signed an eightyear contract to be the Cornhuskers’ next coach and will be introduced Monday at a news conference, the school announced Saturday.

The 47-year-old Rhule quickly turned around downtrodden programs at Temple and Baylor before leaving for the NFL to coach the Panthers. The Panthers fired him in October after he started his third season with four losses in five games.

“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to lead the Nebraska football program,” Rhule said in a statement. “When you think of great, tradition-rich programs in college football, Nebraska is right at the top of the list.”

Rhule was 11-27 with the Panthers and left with about $40 million remaining on the seven-year, guaranteed $62 million contract he signed in 2020.

College basketball:

Marcus Sasser scored 19 points, J’Wan Roberts added 11 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 2 Houston held on to beat Kent State 49-44 on Saturday and give itself an opportunity to take over the No. 1 ranking.

NFL: Undrafted rookie kicker Caleb Shudak will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Bengals after the Titans scratched Randy Bullock for a second straight game with an injured right calf.

NHL: Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play with just over two minutes to go and the Oilers rallied for four third-period goals to shock the Rangers 4-3 Saturday.

Tennis: Felix Auger-Aliassime led Canada to its second ever Davis Cup final after winning both his singles and doubles rubbers in a 2-1 fightback over Italy on Saturday.