Dylan Raiola walked into Nebraska with the weight of a program’s revival resting squarely on his shoulders. The five-star phenom, who once committed to both Ohio State and Georgia before ultimately choosing the Cornhuskers, had all the hype in the world. But like any true freshman quarterback thrown into the fire, his first season was anything but smooth sailing. He flashed brilliance early—Nebraska jumped out to a 5-1 start, looking like a program ready to turn the corner under Matt Rhule.

The Huskers finished 7-6 but the five losses in their final six games—including some performances left fans questioning his decision-making—tempered expectations. Still, Raiola’s potential was impossible to ignore. David Pollack and Brent Rollins sat down on David Pollack College Football podcast to talk about that. The CFB Hall-of-Famer put it, “He’s the best Nebraska quarterback in a long time.” That alone gives Cornhuskers fans a reason to believe, even if the path of Rhule’s College Football Playoff berth remains treacherous.

The biggest storyline around Dylan Raiola had nothing to do with his on-field play, even with a few mistakes. As the insiders discussed, “he’s got the mannerisms of Mahomes a little bit,” Pollack said. “That’s got to stop—I know the comparison has to stop—but he’s got the mannerisms, the hair a little bit, like obviously the same coach, the same quarterback coach.” It’s high praise with a necessary caveat. The striking resemblance to Patrick Mahomes—from the haircut, to the leg sleeve, and the jersey number. The cosplay, which as per the QB1 is coincidental, turned a bit weird. When a recent video of the rising sophomore sparked concerns about his weight.

Raiola may share some stylistic elements with the NFL’s best quarterback, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to take over college football just yet. What’s clear, though, is that his skill set is unlike anything Nebraska has seen under center in years. “He’s the guy,” Pollack continued. “He’s the one that showed you flashes in the beginning of the season… Like, true freshman gaining experience.” And that experience will be the key to unlocking his next step. While some planned to travel hundreds of miles to catch a glimpse of the latest Raiola in the spotlight, Matt Rhule might disappoint a few. In order to gatekeep his talent from rivals, Huskers are planning to cancel their spring game. The historic school could lose around $600,000 in ticket sales.

One of the biggest hurdles Dylan Raiola faced last season was dealing with pressure—both figuratively and literally. Nebraska’s offensive line didn’t provide the kind of clean pockets he would have preferred, and the lack of a dominant run game only compounded the issue. Rollins pointed out the consequences: “He made a lot of mistakes… Didn’t know when to get rid of the football, didn’t know the answers to the test.” The Illinois game was a prime example, where Raiola’s struggles in overtime proved costly. For the analyst, it was mostly “Running away from things and and going backwards and taking those negative yardage plays.” But those same struggles could set the foundation for a major sophomore leap.

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Raiola has the physical tools to be an elite college quarterback. The challenge will be refining his mental approach, understanding coverages at a higher level, and improving his ability to extend plays without sacrificing efficiency. If Raiola can clean up the self-inflicted mistakes—if he can start ‘knowing the answers to the test’ before the snap—Nebraska’s ceiling rises significantly.

Coach Rhule had a strong message for Dylan Raiola cometh 2025

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule isn’t handing the keys to the Cornhuskers’ offense to Dylan Raiola just yet. Leadership isn’t given—it’s earned. And for Raiola, that journey starts small before it gets big.

“Before he can make it his team, I think he has to make it his offense. Before he makes it his offense, I think he has to make it his receiving corps,” Rhule explained during a press conference earlier this week. Master the details, build trust, and then take the reins.

Rhule gave a quick nod to Raiola’s dedication, mentioning how the young QB was courtside at the Supernova game with teammate Heinrich Haarberg. Fun? Absolutely. But Rhule’s main concern? Whether Raiola was up bright and early the next morning, putting in the real work. Spoiler alert: he was.

“That’s what I mean by gratitude,” Rhule emphasized. “It’s not just saying ‘thank you.’ It’s proving it—by showing up, grinding every day, and pushing yourself to be better.”

Nebraska kicks off the 2025 season against Cincinnati on Aug. 28.