Former head coach Mike Riley was fired after a 19-19 record across three seasons, a move partly accelerated to secure Scott Frost after his 13-0 run at UCF.
Dannen further explained the difficulty of Rhule's rebuilding task compared to taking over an already successful program.
“That's different than inheriting a program that won 10 and then winning 11 the next year,” Dannen said.
The upcoming 2026 season brought challenges after quarterback Dylan Raiola transferred to the Oregon Ducks following an injury.
Despite losing four of the final five games last year, Rhule expressed confidence in the team's trajectory following key offseason adjustments, including hiring Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator.
“I have to live in the world where having high expectations this past year and losing four out of our last five games,” Rhule said.
Rhule noted that while failing to close out the prior season was difficult, the program remains focused on growth.
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“Not being able to finish seasons the way that we want. So, I'm unbelievably optimistic,” Rhule said.
