Matt Rhule will return to coaching after all, and reportedly sooner than later.

Chris Low of ESPN is reporting that Rhule is primary target for Nebraska to fill its head coaching opening, and the Cornhuskers have “zeroed in” on the former Carolina Panthers coach. A deal is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

It was long expected for Rhule to return to college after he enjoyed success at Baylor and Temple. One question was how much his contract buyout from the Panthers would factor into his decision to return to coaching.

Rhule was the first NFL coach to be fired this season after he went 11-27 with Carolina and had roughly $40 million remaining on the seven-year, guaranteed $62 million contract he signed in 2020, when he made the jump from Baylor to the pros, the Associated Press reported.