Matt Rhule vs. Luke Fickell — Did Nebraska or Wisconsin win the coaching search?

Nebraska-Wisconsin isn’t a rivalry. Heck, it’s not much of a series.

But it might finally get interesting.

Matt Rhule vs. Luke Fickell. Let the games begin.

A couple weeks ago I wondered how the two coaching searches might play out as a competition.

Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts and Wisconsin A.D. Chris McIntosh were both looking for head coaches. Both were All-Americans three decades ago for their schools.

Who would win the search?

When Alberts announced Rhule on Saturday, it appeared to be advantage Trev.

Not so fast.

Wisconsin, projected to hire interim coach Jim Leonhard, shocked many by hiring Fickell away from Cincinnati.

Both hires were applauded as coups by national media. Both are signs of the Big Ten times.

With USC and UCLA coming in two years, and the playoff going to 12, schools need to spend their increased millions. NU and Wisconsin did just that on proven commodities.

Who won the search? We’ll watch it play out on a football field every year.

Some things we’ll probably never know. Did Alberts pursue Fickell? Did McIntosh want Rhule?

Did NU landing Rhule sway Wisconsin to Fickell?

Both schools got the right men. NU needs a builder who can sell a dream. The more button-down Fickell has a Big Ten style that will suit Madison.

“I won’t discuss who we talked to,” Alberts told me on Monday. “He’ll do a great job at Wisconsin. He’s a great hire by them.”

No, Alberts and McIntosh didn’t have a side bet on the hiring process. But the two are building a relationship.

“I’ve gotten to know him a little bit at the Big Ten meetings,” Alberts said. “At one of the meetings (McIntosh) said we probably won’t be able to engage much during this but when it’s all over you and I need to sit down and work through what happened.

“We’ll do that. I have a lot of respect for Chris.”

But knowing former All-Americans, they’ll also be competitive.

Let the games begin.

Lack of a bowl game didn't matter

Remember when some of us wondered if Mickey Joseph would put pressure on Alberts if he took NU to a bowl game?

It was never the case.

“There were no ultimatums,” Alberts said. “No, I don’t think it’s fair. Just like there were coaches that we looked at. If he loses a game, oh, he’s out. It couldn’t be a week-to-week thing.

“Mickey didn’t get to a bowl. But there’s no denying that our football team wasn’t exponentially better when he was coaching it.”

Nebraska quarterbacks

You know me and recruiting. I rarely go there.

But after watching the Class A state championship game, I have to say Nebraska should offer Zane Flores today, tomorrow, soon.

The Gretna quarterback has the arm and the head and guts. He’s a playmaker.

I know he’s committed to Oklahoma State. But make a run at him.

Nebraska can’t let these kids get away.

Meanwhile, Rhule could really benefit from having Casey Thompson quarterback his first NU team.

I’m sure the NIL folks have been alerted.

Wisconsin vs. Texas in Omaha?

Michella Chester of NCAA.com predicted every match of the NCAA volleyball tournament and has Wisconsin, Texas, Stanford and Nebraska in the Final Four in Omaha.

She predicts Texas over Wisconsin in the championship game.

Hmmm. I wonder who Omaha fans would root for in that one?

On Nebraska volleyball

Not sure what to make of Nebraska heading into the volleyball tournament.

The Huskers avoided Texas, Wisconsin and Stanford regions. But this team looked tired last weekend in getting outplayed by Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Losing Kenzie Knuckles certainly played into the losses.

How much does this team have left?