Dec 7, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Matt Rhule (left) and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley (right) talk during a time out in the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Rhule found a lot of success in college football before moving on to the NFL. Despite rumors that he might be lured back, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be doing so anytime soon.

When Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to take the USC job, that opened up tons of speculation about who the Sooners might want to hire to replace him. While Bob Stoops will be the interim head coach for the bowl game, the program wants to bring in a leader who can maintain the level of excellence they’ve had in the Big 12 before they enter the SEC.

One of the names that’d been thrown around a lot is Rhule, who is in his second season with the Carolina Panthers. While he hasn’t found too much success so far, he’s still rebuilding the franchise. But before that, Rhule turned Temple into a winner, going 20-7 in his last two seasons there. Then he took over Baylor at rock bottom and returned them to success, going 11-3 in his third season with the team, which ended in the Sugar Bowl.

It stands to reason he’d be a solid selection if you’re looking for someone to carry forward sustained success in college football. However, it does not sound like Rhule will be interested, at least according to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman.

“Have seen some speculation about Matt Rhule to OU,” wrote Feldman. “Was told that is not happening.”

The reaction around college football and NFL circles is mixed, depending on who you root for or cover.

The speculation appears to be moving on now to Clemson DV Brent Venables, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, and others. But as we’ve learned in the coaching carousel, you never quite know when the next stop is coming and where we’ll all end up.

[Bruce Feldman]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.