The arrival of five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola was supposed to mark a turning point for Nebraska, a long-awaited return to national prominence. But as the 2024 season unfolded, the freshman phenom and the Cornhuskers found themselves at the center of familiar failings. A defining moment came in the Big Ten game against Illinois. In a back-and-forth game, Nebraska had the chance to take the lead in OT, but it was Illinois who went ahead. Despite an impressive showing in the contest, Raiola was sacked on three of Nebraska’s four plays in overtime, with the last one ending the game.

The game highlighted that while Raoila remains a bright prospect for Nebraska, there is a long way to go for him. This defeat also came after a promising 3-0 start to the season including a notable 28–10 triumph over long-standing rival Colorado. Yet, the Cornhuskers went to a 5-1 start with Raoila leading the way, but their season unraveled picking up just one more win in the next six games. Though they ended the season with a Pinstripe Bowl win, HC Matt Rhule is wary of the challenges that lie ahead.

Rhule will continue to uphold the standards in Nebraska despite ending up with a 7-6 season. He understands that the program is some way off from competing for the national title and it has to be a steady process to get them back in the college football playoffs. An inconsistent season does little for the confidence of players but Rhule thinks the Cornhuskers have to keep going and the players will have to believe.

“The only chance we have to get to a CFP team is to do what CFP teams do. And what most people do, is they start trying to do it and they look around and they’re like ‘Hey it’s not really working is it? No, it’s not really working’ and they quit. They give up on their dream. The dream never gives up on you,” Rhule said when he joined Josh Pate’s ‘Pate State Speaker Series’ on February 17.

One of the reasons why Rhule joined Nebraska was that he saw it as a program that would build for the future. With the changes in the college football landscape thanks to the NIL and transfer portal, the Cornhuskers are one of the few programs that might be able to stay on its two feet. And even though they might not have gone full throttle like OSU, Rhule knows the importance of keeping patience.

Rhule knows that player frustration can be real especially given how positively the season started for them, only to collapse and never quite recover. “You know, sometimes as the younger players come in—you know, the Dylan Raiolas come in—and you know, they’re frustrated we’re losing, but they understand, like, as they go through it, they’ll make the steps. But nothing—nothing comes easy,” he added.

Last season Raoila had 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Not bad for a freshman, but for someone tagged as the future of college football, it felt a little underwhelming. Still, this should hold him in good stead as he prepares for his sophomore season at the program. Rhule has already gone about setting offseason goals for the young QB.

“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 said in a press conference over two weeks ago.

The Cornhuskers also have to make progress as a program overall and they are doing well in the transfer portal. With 16 transfer portal commitments, the class ranks 11th in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings. On the offense, the Cornhuskers added Dane Key, Nyziah Hunter, and Hardley Gilmore IV at the wide receiver position. This bodes well for Raiola and the future of the program, but Rhule is aware that these are just the first steps.

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He mentioned, “Ohio State is working hard. So for us to be working as hard as Ohio State and they’re already three levels ahead of us, we’re going to be chasing them for a long time. We’ve got to be willing to do things that maybe they aren’t. And I say that with respect to them, because I know Ryan’s going to do everything. But, like, you’ve got to do things that are so uncomfortable just to have a chance.”

Rhule’s comparing their grind to Ohio State’s dominance, and it’s tough to deny. The Buckeyes are sitting pretty with the 2024 National Championship in the bag, while Nebraska is still trying to figure out how to win consistently.

Ohio State’s depth, talent, and reputation make it look like a juggernaut compared to Nebraska’s rebuilding project. Rhule knows this, but he’s not backing down. He’s ready to double down on what’s working, even if the results haven’t been there just yet.

Matt Rhule’s playoff plan for Nebraska

While the 2024 season didn’t quite hit the mark, Rhule’s setting up the foundation for something bigger. The question is, will the talent catch up to the mindset?

“You double down, (and) you go all in. You take all your chips and put them in the middle of the table,” Rhule told Josh Plate. If you think Rhule’s about to pack it in, you’re wrong. The grind is far from over. Year 3 is on the horizon, and with it comes a chance for this program to turn the corner. He’s not just tweaking the roster; he’s giving the coaching staff a shot in the arm too. Terry Bradden is taking over the defensive line, bringing some fresh fire.

He has taken a methodical approach to the transfer portal, adding the pieces that fit his Nebraska puzzle as he looks to return the program to the top of the college football. The clock’s ticking, sure, but Rhule’s playing the long game—he’s all in on the vision.