Former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen will take over as Nebraska's offensive coordinator for the remaining three games of the season, head coach Matt Rhule announced Monday.
Holgorsen, who had spent most of this season as an offensive consultant for TCU, was hired by Nebraska as an offensive consultant just last week. He is replacing current offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, who is in his second year at Nebraska.
"This is not about next year," Rhule said of the move to make Holgorsen the playcaller. "This is about right now.
"It's unique, but it's probably what's needed," Rhule added. "It's the right thing."
The Cornhuskers are coming off a bye week that was preceded by a three-game losing streak during which they were outscored 104-44. In Nebraska's six conference games, the Cornhuskers rank 11th in the Big Ten in offense, 13th in rushing offense and ninth in passing offense. Nebraska also ranks 98th in offense SP+.
Nebraska will need Holgorsen -- who was fired by Houston after going 4-8 last season, but has ample experience leading prolific offenses -- to help reignite a lackluster unit that has been led by true freshman Dylan Raiola. Raiola, ESPN's No. 11 recruit and the top pocket passer in the 2024 recruiting class, has thrown for 1,921 yards but has eight interceptions to only 10 touchdowns in nine games. In the past four games, Raiola has thrown for only one touchdown and six interceptions.
On Monday, Rhule also said that Raiola will try to practice this week ahead of the Cornhuskers' upcoming matchup at USC. Raiola suffered a back injury in a 27-20 loss against UCLA and did not return. If Raiola can't suit up against the Trojans, junior Heinrich Haarberg would get the start.
After starting 5-1, Nebraska is 5-4 and needs one win over its last three games (USC, Wisconsin and Iowa) to clinch a bowl game for the first time since 2016 and end the longest bowl drought of any team in power conference football.