Dylan Raiola’s 1st year at Nebraska was a rollercoaster with no seatbelts. The kid came in as a freshman QB with sky-high expectations and left folks clutching their pearls. A 7-6 season had critics throwing strays his way, and then came the transfer rumors—big ones, like a $12 million bag kind of big. But Raiola? He shut it down like a mic drop at a rap battle.

“Honestly, it was unfortunate that I had to, you know, kind of reassure everyone I was here,” Raiola said, addressing the chatter. “I never officially entered [the portal] and never really was shopping around.” Translation? Nebraska is home, and he’s not about to bounce for bags like Bryce Underwood. Notably, a former five-star prospect during the 2024 football recruiting cycle, Raiola did change schools in a way, notably flipping to Nebraska after initially committing to Georgia.

On New Year’s Eve, he hopped on IG, flexing some pics. There were shots with his sister, who’s a volleyball player, and some killer highlights with his Huskers squad. He even dropped that iconic Jay-Z line in the caption: “Only God can judge me, so I’m gone… Either love me or leave me alone. #gbr #revival #1better 🤝🏽🙏🏽” With all the transfer portal craziness going on, he finished it off with ‘Go Big Red.’ Now this guy’s locked in with the Cornhuskers, no matter what.

Nebraska DB Amare Sanders didn’t let that energy slide, though. Dropping a comment as cold as December: “Say dat louder.” Message delivered—both to the doubters watching from the bleachers and anyone who still ain’t listening. Cornhusker Nation stays loyal. Raiola has indeed grown in Nebraska’s uniform. In fact, he has been becoming popular among his teammates.

In October, defensive teammate Ty Robinson detailed what he “loves” about NU’s starting quarterback. “What I love about Dylan,” Robinson had said. “Is that, yes, he’s embraced that leadership role head on, with the challenges that he’s facing, learning everything for the first time. But he’s also listening to older guys.” 

And let’s talk about Raiola’s season. Sure, it wasn’t anywhere near the top 100 Heisman material, but the Hawaiian native still balled out small time. Completing 66.6% of his passes for 2,617 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 picks. That’s legit for a freshman. Maybe not, but that’s not the point here. He also broke Nebraska’s freshman passing record, dethroning Adrian Martinez.

But here’s the kicker—he led the Cornhuskers to a winning season, their first since 2016, capping it off with a 20-15 win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. Nebraska hasn’t celebrated like this in nearly a decade. That’s progress, for sure.

The Cornhuskers’ biggest win, though? Keeping Dylan Raiola in Lincoln. The transfer portal rumors had fans sweating harder than August in Nebraska. Big-time programs were allegedly ready to toss him a $12.5 million offer. Raiola didn’t just reject the noise; he doubled down on his loyalty. “That whole deal was kind of out of my control,” Raiola said. Out of control or not, his response spoke volumes—he’s here to ride with Nebraska, win or lose.

Dylan Raiola’s leap of faith next season

Now, with his freshman year in the books, the pressure low-key cranked all the way up for 2025. Nebraska fans are dreaming of Big 10 glory, and Raiola knows it. Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl was a sneak peek of his potential. Despite an early pick on the opening drive, Raiola bounced back like a vet, leading 2 touchdown drives and tossing a beauty of a 13-yard score to Emmett Johnson. That’s resilience, folks.

But let’s not forget the bigger picture. Raiola’s growth isn’t just about his arm—it’s about his leadership and level of maturity. The way he rallied the Huskers after a shaky start shows he’s not just another freshman QB. Under Matt Rhule, this team is low-key starting to eat. The Pinstripe Bowl win wasn’t just a victory; it was a good-end note. It’s about time to bet that Nebraska is back in the mix, and Raiola is their ticket to the next level.

With the dust settling in 2024, all eyes are on Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers. Can he take the leap and bring Nebraska back to Big 10 relevance? The kid’s got the tools, the Mahomes swagger, and now, the experience. It’s all about putting it together in 2025. One thing’s for sure—if Raiola keeps this energy, Cornhusker Nation might just have something special brewing. Buckle up, Nebraska. Your boy gonna cook!