At just two years old, Dylan Raiola’s destiny was already taking shape when his uncle Donovan Raiola saw glimpses of a QB in the making. With deep family roots in Nebraska Football and Tom Brady as an idol, what more could you ask for to shape a great quarterback? Well, Dylan did not disappoint his uncle and ended up being the Huskers QB. However, Raiola’s season in Nebraska feels like watching Groundhog Day—the same issues on repeat. The O-line was a mess. He’d make some head-scratching decisions, and those clutch throws? Yeah, sometimes they sailed into the dirt. Turnovers plagued him, and opportunities slipped through his fingers… rinse and repeat, week after week. It almost makes you wonder if his family legacy is the only reason he’s there.

The situation is definitely dire for Dylan, but so is for Uncle Donovan who has immense trust in the Huskers QB. Being the offensive line coach of the Huskers, he must act quickly, or the offense will hit a new low the next season. Well, loyalty is one thing, but is this the best path for his development? Sure, they won the bowl game—the first time since 2015—and finished 7-6, but are we really seeing the best of what this quarterback can do?

Now, despite having a sloppy season, Dylan Raiola is going to stick with the Huskers. His uncle Donovan Raiola’s presence is what is keeping him around. But at what stake? Amid all the chaos, there are still other things left to look forward to. As the season has finally ended, On3 has released its top 25 quarterbacks in 2025, ranking them based on a combination of proven production and potential skill set. Raiola is currently ranked 23rd, but many fans believe he deserves a higher spot.

Well, there was a time when Matt Rhule and the team almost lost their hopes of holding up on Dylan Raiola because being faithful to your roots is one thing, and giving up $12 million is another. Yes, you read that right. Even though Dylan decided to give the Huskers a second chance by not hitting the portal, the issue is still their offensive line. Let’s get this straight. Getting sacked 18 times shows where Nebraska’s offense even stands.

Moreover, Matt Rhule took another blow as sophomore wideout Jaylen Lloyd hit the transfer portal. Losing a key player like Lloyd, who put up 19 catches for 492 yards and three touchdowns over two seasons is a massive loss. And it didn’t just stop there; his fellow wideouts, Isaiah Neyor, and Malachi Coleman, already dipped, leaving Nebraska’s offense in shambles.

But the question is, even with such inconsistencies, why would Dylan Raiola want to stick with the team? Family is important, but so is his career. The answer is simple.

Matt Rhule is pulling out all the stops for his QB’s future. He replaced OC Marcus Satterfield with Dana Holgorsen, brought in Daikiel Shorts as WR coach, and landed offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett to bolster the O-line. Dylan’s uncle, Donovan Raiola, must now train Pritchett to become the ultimate bodyguard for his nephew. At the moment, however, quarterback rankings are hotly debated among fans.

Huskers fam’s dissatisfaction with Dylan Raiola’s rankings

Dylan Raiola made a bold call to stay with the Huskers, but let’s not forget that without Matt Rhule, he might not have even seen the field as a freshman. Despite the challenges, Raiola wrapped up his season with 2,823 yards, completing 276 of 411 passes with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Sure, it’s not elite, but it’s far from bad enough to rank Jayden Maiava ahead of him. Even fans feel the same as they say, “Watching Maiava… sorry, but Dylan is better… by a fairly substantial margin.”

Well, let’s just call a spade a spade, just like this fan: “Love it—bulletin board material for DR.” Now let’s just be honest: 1,201 yards with 11 touchdowns and 6 interceptions is nowhere near what Dylan Raiola did for his team, despite all the sacks and inconsistencies. However, Jayden is not the only one on their radar.

Now fans are drawing Dylan Raiola’s parallel with second-ranked Drew Aller, but isn’t it weird though? This guy took Penn State to the playoffs. Yes, he indeed needs to work up against high-ranked opponents, but then we can’t ignore the fact that he is the guy who holds the FBS record for the most passing attempts without an interception to start a CFB career, and Dylan Start is nowhere near that. But fans don’t believe that, as they say, “How does Penn State have a revolving door of overrated QBs that never deliver but continue to get first-rounder attention?” 

Honestly, who doesn’t have a rough day? Even Drew Aller had one against ND. Late mistakes, early interceptions, and inconsistencies made it tough for him to hold up the game, but that doesn’t make him a bad player.

At least this fan acknowledges that saying, “Allar has all of the physical tools and talents to be a 1st round NFL QB, but boy, that Notre Dame game was rough. Penn State’s receivers also did him no favors.” Right now, Dylan Raiola’s main competition isn’t other quarterbacks; it’s himself. We’ll see if the roster changes help him develop a strong game for the Huskers.