Nebraska extends coach Bo Pelini through 2018 season

After nearly challenging Nebraska to fire him, Bo Pelini has received a contract extension. (Nati Harnik/AP) Nebraska has signed coach Bo Pelini to a contract

After nearly challenging Nebraska to fire him, Bo Pelini has received a contract extension. (Nati Harnik/AP)

Nebraska has signed coach Bo Pelini to a contract extension, Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com reports. According to Doyel, the school extended Pelini for five years, which would keep him with the Cornhuskers through the 2018 season.

A Nebraska spokesperson confirmed the news to ESPN's Mitch Sherman. With the extension, Pelini received a $100,000 raise, bumping his salary to $3.075 million.

Pelini has been a consistent winner at Nebraska, but his critics point to his inability to get over the hump. In six full seasons in Lincoln -- three in the Big 12 and three in the Big Ten -- Pelini has won at least nine games each year but never more than 10.

In 2013, the Cornhuskers lost to Minnesota, Michigan State and Iowa. Most notoriously, they also blew an 18-point lead in a 42-21 loss to UCLA on Sept. 14.

Pelini found himself in hot water last year after Deadspin released a two-year-old, profanity-laced audio tape of the coach calling out Nebraska's fans.

After Pelini's Huskers fell to the Hawkeyes in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29, the coach told reporters, "If they want to fire me, go ahead."

Shaw

released a statement of support for Pelini