In a bold move to revitalize their struggling offense, Nebraska has appointed former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen as its offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. The announcement came from head coach Matt Rhule on Monday, signaling a desperate attempt to turn around a team that has seen better days.

Holgorsen, who transitioned from being an offensive consultant at TCU, had just joined the Nebraska program a week ago. He steps in to replace Marcus Satterfield, marking a significant shift in strategy as the Cornhuskers look to break free from a dismal three-game losing streak during which they were outscored a staggering 104-44.

“This is not about next year,” Rhule emphasized, underlining the urgency behind this decision. “It's about right now. It’s unique, but it’s probably what's needed. It’s the right thing.”

Nebraska’s offense has been in dire straits this season, currently ranking 11th in the Big Ten for overall yardage and exhibiting weaknesses in both the rushing and passing game—ranking 13th and 9th, respectively. A disheartening statistic reveals that they sit at 98th in the SP+ offensive rankings.

Transitioning to Holgorsen, who has a proven record of orchestrating high-scoring offenses, is seen as a critical move to rejuvenate a team that has recently leaned on true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola for leadership. Raiola, touted as ESPN’s No. 11 recruiting prospect and the top pocket passer in the 2024 class, has had a mixed performance with 1,921 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, but unfortunately, eight interceptions over nine games. His recent outings reflect a troubling trend, as he’s thrown for only one touchdown and six interceptions over the past four games.

Adding to Nebraska's challenges, Raiola is nursing a back injury sustained during a narrow 27-20 loss to UCLA. Rhule indicated that Raiola will aim to practice this week in preparation for an important matchup against USC. Should he be unable to play, junior quarterback Heinrich Haarberg is positioned to step in.

After a promising start to the season with a 5-1 record, Nebraska now finds themselves at 5-4 and desperately needing just one victory in their final three games against formidable opponents—USC, Wisconsin, and Iowa—to secure a bowl game appearance. This would end a bowl drought that dates back to 2016, the longest in power conference football, putting immense pressure on Holgorsen to work his magic in these closing clashes.

As the Cornhuskers gear up for what could be a turning point, fans are left wondering—can Holgorsen breathe new life into this struggling program, or will Nebraska’s hopes for a bowl game continue to fade?