One Big Ten coach is facing the prospect of needing a quarterback in the transfer portal, but the cost is a steep one.

Matt Rhule is coming off his first year as head coach at Nebraska, and the quarterback position should be a big storyline during the offseason. The Huskers played 3 quarterbacks throughout the season and all struggled to avoid turnovers.

During a Wednesday press conference, Rhule was asked if the team needed to look to the portal to address the position, and the head coach clarified a few things. He said the team would only consider a one-year option if it is an “instant impact” player for Nebraska, but Rhule also said the cost to do so is steep.

He claimed the current cost for a portal in the QB is between $1-$2 million in this era of NIL deals. Rhule also said some teams in the country have $6-$7 million players on the roster.

“I think the portal for me is: I either want to get someone with multiple years that is on caliber with the guys we have or someone who is instant impact upgrade. Someone who can make a difference,” said Rhule. “Make no mistake: a good QB in the portal costs $1 million to $1.5 million to $2 million right now, just so we’re on the same page. Let’s make sure we all understand what’s happening. There are some teams that have $6-$7 million players playing for them.”

As for the Huskers, Rhule said his program is focused on “the old school way” of building the roster, but he also admitted the team used the roster last offseason to add Jeff Sims.

“We just kind of believe in doing things the old school way, the hard way, building. That doesn’t mean we won’t look at people in the portal, we did that last year,” Rhule explained. “It just means they have to be clearly an impact player for us if they’re like a one-year player for us, or they have to be someone that has multiple years to get in our program or develop.”

We’ll see what the cost of the portal ultimately means for Nebraska — and other teams around the country — as programs look to improve their rosters moving into 2024.