Dylan Raiola‘s questions continue to get deeper in a crucial second year. He had a decent year as a freshman, carrying the team to a bowl game victory. He started for all 13 games in the season and showed a solid command of the Huskers’ offense. However, while his work ethics earn a round of applause from Nebraska receiver coach Daikiel Shorts Jr., he also missed some easy catches that could turn the direction of a game, or maybe the direction of the entire program among the contenders. But that’s all that went into the rearview. Even heading into a new season, seems to look unsettled enough for the Huskers’ poster boy.
Raiola has put in a formidable amount of work in the offseason and added 10 pounds to better his frame. It came after coach Matt Rhule directly called out his potential to make a big splash with a 230-pound frame. The QB1 took it to heart and worked his soul out to get into a rigorous workout regime and a proper diet to shed pounds. That transformation denotes a true leadership mindset that helps you navigate through a challenge outside the gridiron. All well and good! But what about the matters inside the field?
Raiola posted 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns to end the Huskers’ long-lingering bowl drought. But can you ever forget the 11 interceptions in a single season? Probably not. Well, it’s not all his fault. He needs to get a quick and apt offense to let him move the needle at the right time. If he feels pressure at the game, it might brutally backfire.
That’s the only major concern On3’s Ari Wasserman has on Raiola. “I don’t think he has to be Superman. There’s a lot of expectations that are put on Nebraska’s shoulders as a result of his arrival and there is an aspect of his game that scares the crap out of me in terms of his long-term development, which is inability to operate under pressure.”
Raiola fails to perform under dire pressure has been a common criticism. He seemed to struggle with the added responsibility that comes with a leader tag. Dana Holgorsen noted how he remained under the shadow whenever any crisis seemed to brew up. Rhule is flatly annoyed by his locker room command. As the Huskers want to step into 2025 with a breakout potential, it’s high time for Raiola to get the lead. But as Rhule said, before taking charge of the offense, he needs to have a grip on the WR communications.
However, keeping the speculations aside, Raiola is constantly grinding himself to be better on and off the field. Can the 2025 Nebraska schedule give him a leg up? Well, even if it does, there’s a dead trap later in the season.
Nebraska and Matt Rhule have a fierce challenge in the 2025 schedule
While all the other scheduled games also demand a lot of grit and dedication, the one against the Hawkeyes moved the needle the most. The Iowa State-Nebraska rivalry has been a recurring gift. It dates back to 1896 when the teams collided head-on for the first time. Ever since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011, the teams met every year on Black Friday. If they seal the match in November of this year, it might be Rhule’s time to rule at Nebraska. That’s not because Iowa is the toughest opponent. But it will be a ‘get up or get out’ kind of match for the Huskers.
Shedding light on that late season deciding factor, Andy continued, “I am very intrigued by Matt Rhule’s year three of Nebraska. Because I do think there’s a chance we could be talking about them. You know, maybe going into the Iowa game at the end of the season as a playoff contender and maybe that game against because Iowa might be in the same boat like that game might be an elimination game.”
The Huskers will kick off the season on August 30 against the Cincinnati Bearcats in a neutral-site game. They will open Memorial Stadium on September 6 when the Akron Zips lace up their shoes for a home away game. However, to reach the Hawkeyes’ level, they need to take care of the business in each game, especially with Michigan State. Just like 2024, one half of the schedule offers some harsh challenges. But with Raiola leading a new offense, Rhule might get to that mark and make history.
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