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Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler as Phil Snow Takes Interim Role for Bowl

Matt Rhule responded to season-long run defense failures that culminated in late blowouts.

Overview

  • Nebraska dismissed first-year coordinator John Butler on Monday and appointed associate head coach Phil Snow to run the defense for the bowl game.
  • Rhule said he aims to hire a permanent replacement in the coming weeks as the program transitions into the postseason.
  • The Huskers allowed 171.3 rushing yards per game and finished tied for 104th nationally with 19 sacks, with opponents scoring on 96.8% of red-zone trips.
  • Nebraska was outscored 77-26 by Penn State and Iowa in its final two games, surrendering 444 rushing yards and recording one sack in that stretch.
  • Butler was promoted after Tony White left for Florida State, following six seasons coaching defensive backs for the Buffalo Bills, while Nebraska finished the regular season 7-5 and Rhule holds an extension through 2032.