Imagine walking into a trophy room so shiny it could blind you—national titles, Heismans, legends carved into the walls. Now picture the same squad begging for bowl invites just to stay relevant. That’s Nebraska. That’s what Matt Rhule walked into. And now, it’s Dylan Raiola’s problem too. The ghosts of the ‘90s? Still loud. And when J.D. PicKell lit up the mic, he didn’t hold back. Said what needed to be said—and Cornhusker Nation felt it.

Let’s get one thing clear—Dylan Raiola didn’t flop. The 5-star freshman balled out for 2,819 yards, tossed 13 tuddies, and hit 67% of his passes. But that O-line? Bro was running for his life like it was a horror movie. Got sacked 27 times. Still, Raiola stood tall—until the pocket collapsed. Again. And again. It wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t hopeless either. It was just Nebraska football. The man spent more time on his back than in a beach chair in July. Still, you got to respect the grind. Raiola never flinched. He ate the hits, made plays, and gave Nebraska their first bowl appearance since 2016. That’s not small potatoes in Lincoln.

Now here’s the gut punch. On3’s J.D. PicKell hit Husker Nation with the hard talk. When asked if Nebraska was “back,” J.D. didn’t sugarcoat it. “You don’t go from broke back to vacationing in Hawaii with the family living on a private villa,” he said. “It doesn’t happen just that quickly.”

PicKell doubles down “Nebraska, that fanbase, that program—they’re used to being rich,” he said. “And now, you went from being rich to having a bowl drought. You went from flying private to, I mean, being on the corner of the street, man, just begging for change.” That hit like a cold splash of Kool-Aid to the face. He’s not wrong. And as painful as that metaphor is, it’s also facts.

Matt Rhule didn’t come to Lincoln to babysit a legacy. Look, Rhule might be 12-13 at Lincoln, but the man’s a fixer. Temple, Baylor—he walked into dumpster fires and came out to applause. Nebraska? Different TYPE of rebuild. This isn’t just Xs and Os—it’s vibes, it’s history, it’s expectations thicker than Midwest humidity. J.D. PicKell hit that nail too: “They’re used to being rich… swimming in the Benjamins.” But now in 2025? Not so bad. “They’ve gone from broke to having a steady job, can pay the bills, get pizza on a Friday night.” No lies detected. Nebraska’s gone from filet mignon to drive-thru burgers—but at least they’re eating now. 6-6 might not sound like much, but after a seven-year bowl drought? That Pinstripe Bowl ticket felt like the damn Super Bowl. But that isn’t enough at all.

From 1969 to 2003, Nebraska was THAT team. Bowl games? Automatic. National titles? Standard. Tom Osborne? Legend. Three Heisman winners—Eric Crouch, Mike Rozier, and Johnny Rodgers. 46 conference chips. The ghost of that dominance still haunts Memorial Stadium. But J.D. said it best: “Back is relative.”

He made a good point on what back means to Lincoln. “For Texas, back means national titles. For Nebraska? It might just mean relevance,” he added. And honestly, that’s the whole game. Because this fanbase isn’t just cheering for first downs—they’re yearning for 1995. And Raiola? He’s got one hand on the steering wheel, but he isn’t flying solo. Pickell gave big-time props to Dylan Raiola: “You’ve got a quarterback now who I think… has the ability to put you over the top.”

Matt Rhule and Co. reload, but the pressure is mounting in Lincoln

J.D. Pickell didn’t just throw opinions—he painted the whole damn picture. Nebraska, to him, isn’t a sad story. It’s a comeback in the works. “You’re at a point where you gotta do the right things… you’ve climbed the ladder.” But even climbing gets tiring without a win at the top. Raiola? He’s the golden ticket, but he isn’t Willy Wonka yet. Holgorsen’s got the playbook and the fans? They’ve got hope again. What they don’t have? Patience. This next season isn’t a warm-up—it’s a statement.

Year three. That’s when Matt Rhule’s magic usually pops off. And now? He’s got Dana Holgorsen calling plays, more weapons lined up, and a “workable” schedule. Translation? No more excuses. “You gotta do the right things. Show up early. Leave late,” J.D. reminded everyone. It’s grind time. Still, this isn’t a fairy tale. “You’ve got that steady job now,” J.D. said. “You can pay the bills. But to be back? You gotta elevate.” So yeah, Nebraska’s not flying private yet, but at least they aren’t thumbing rides on the highway either.

Make no mistake: the culture is still there. Sellouts. Passion. That signature grit. And while the national media might’ve moved on, the folks in Lincoln still believe. Raiola’s got a whole offseason to shed some weight—literally. Rhule didn’t sugarcoat it either: “He won’t be a great quarterback at 240 pounds.” Translation? Hit the gym, young buck.

This team isn’t just trying to exist—they’re trying to matter again. They’ve got the tools, the coach, and a quarterback built like a tank with touch. They just need the results. And like J.D. PicKell put it, “This year is about going and getting paid, man.” So here we are. Nebraska isn’t back. Yet. But they’re damn sure knocking on the door. And if J.D. PicKell’s right—and he usually is—this team’s about to go from paycheck-to-paycheck to flexing that Big Ten bonus real soon.