Dylan Raiola seems committed to being a Husker at the moment. Last week, he posted an Instagram picture of himself with the words “All in! GBR.” This message, sent after the transfer portal opened on December 9, will come as a relief for the Nebraska fans who have been dreading his departure ever since reports of programs “tampering” Raiola emerged in the previous month. However, a recent update, which could bring a seismic shift in college football, suggests his loyalty to Nebraska will be tested.

Dylan Raiola’s freshman year at Nebraska didn’t turn out as he or his HC Matt Rhule would have wanted. The young quarterback started the season with a bang as the Cornhuskers went 5-1. But their campaign went pear-shaped as they lost the next four games and eventually finished 6-6. 2,595 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while not bad were not the levels expected of someone touted as the college football’s Patrick Mahomes.

Yet, he remains a crucial part of Matt Rhule’s program and what he is trying to build for the next couple of years. In fact, the HC even hired Dana Holgorsen as offensive coordinator after a patch of three straight defeats saw Raiola throw five interceptions. Raiola also has familial ties with the program with his father, Dominic being a part of the Huskers from 1998-2000. But Nebraska’s golden boy could be literally sitting on a fortune if he ever enters the transfer portal and that could prove to be decisive for his future.

According to NFL Rookie Watch, “Dylan Raiola could reportedly “command an insane amount of money” if he entered the transfer portal. There are reportedly several SEC and Big Ten teams that would be “willing to offer” over $12.5 million to land Raiola as a transfer.”

In the SEC, the Georgia Bulldogs could pursue Raiola if he decides to leave his current team.  Bulldogs’ QB Carson Beck is set to depart for the NFL next year and it leaves a gap where Raiola can come in. Notably, before joining Nebraska, Raiola was committed to Georgia for seven months. Kirby Smart’s program has won two of the last three National Championships and can offer Raiola the money and the platform to succeed.

As far as the BIG TEN goes, the Buckeyes could eye the 19-year-old as their QB Will Howard’s eligibility will be over after his fifth season. Ryan Day is under constant pressure to improve and deliver the program’s first national championship since 2014. Recruiting a player like Raiola will boost those hopes and for the player, there is an incentive to stay in the same conference in addition to the financial package.

Meanwhile, the NFL Rookie Watch report further added, “Raiola is reportedly currently “content” with staying in Nebraska with the Cornhuskers. However, if Raiola decided to change his mind, he could receive money that would change college football forever. The Cornhuskers QB is a SPECIAL talent.”

Raiola is a special talent indeed and will command special money. In today’s college football landscape, it isn’t unfathomable to imagine what the report is saying about Raiola’s possible transfer.

Take Bryce Underwood, for instance. That $10.5 million in NIL swayed him from Brian Kelly to Sherrone Moore. For months, Underwood stayed committed to LSU, but Michigan kept pushing and eventually, Underwood flipped, announcing his arrival in Ann Arbor on December 4.

But Raiola has been steadfast in his commitment to Nebraska. In November, On3’s Robin Washut reported that Holgorsen’s arrival in Nebraska may have warded off the danger of Raiola leaving for now. Speaking on Sirius XM’s Big Ten Radio, Washut said, “I can guarantee you with 100 percent certainty that he and his camp have received, you know, tampering phone calls of people checking in.” But Raiola hasn’t budged.

His latest Instagram story suggests he is willing to put behind a frustrating season and work towards a much improved showing for the rest of his eligibility with the program.

But what if he changes his mind? Get ready for a bidding war like we’ve never seen before.

If Raiola takes the bag and bounces, it’s a business move, plain and simple. But if he stays, he could prove that loyalty and grit still have a place in college football. Either way, his decision will say a lot about where the sport is headed. See, college football has always been about passion, rivalries, and pride. Now? It feels more like a high-stakes poker game where the richest schools with the richest sponsors hold all the cards.

How NIL is changing college football forever

Let’s keep it real: NIL has turned college football into the wild, wild West. Once upon a time, players picked schools based on tradition, coaching, and the chance to build something special. Now? It’s all about the commas in that check. Programs aren’t just pitching their facilities or fan bases anymore—they’re cutting deals that rival rookie contracts.

For Dylan Raiola, this $12.5 million rumor is the latest example of how NIL is flipping the culture upside down. College football has become largely a money game and pure business, where players are brands and schools are bidders. Sure, NIL is a win for athletes who deserve to cash in on their talent, but let’s not act like it’s all sunshine and touchdowns.

Then there is also the case of college football coaches funding their program’s NIL kitty from their own pocket. At Florida State, HC Mike Norvell is giving $4.5 million to help fund their Vision of Excellence initiative, essentially making his contribution to bankroll their operations when it comes to the NIL deals.

Similarly, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy had his contract amended to get a lower salary and the money saved will be redistributed through the school to athletes, according to many reports. LSU’s Brian Kelly launched the “Kelly Family Million Dollar Match Challenge,” where he and his wife will match the donations up to $1 million given to LSU’s Name, Image, and Likeness collective. Since the NCAA rules prevent coaches from making direct NIL donations, the money will be filtered through the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the fundraising organization that financially supports LSU athletics.

These are big changes to the college football landscape indeed.

The Raiola saga isn’t just about one player—it’s about the game and the whole NCAA itself. Let’s be real, Rhule is doing everything he can to keep his QB locked in.  And honestly, why shouldn’t Rhule go all in to craft his own #15—his version of Patrick Mahomes—right at home? Whether Raiola stays in Nebraska or chases the bag elsewhere, one thing’s crystal clear: college football is changing at a frightening speed.