Matt Rhule doesn’t think Dylan Raiola is getting the respect he deserves for his start to the 2025 season with Nebraska football.
The sophomore quarterback put together a dominant performance in the Huskers’ 68-0 shutout victory against the Akron Zips on Saturday. Raiola was 24-of-31 for 364 yards and four touchdowns while adding three carries for 13 yards.
That yardage total is the highest by a quarterback since Adrian Martinez’s 384-yard performance at Wisconsin in 2018.
“I don’t think anyone gave him nearly enough,” Rhule said of the credit Raiola’s been given. “I told the TV guys before the game, I said, ‘Dylan’s done a good job of blocking out the noise.’ A lot of guys were talking about his performance last week.”
Raiola completed his last 11 passes against Cincinnati in week one and his first nine against Akron, bringing the number of consecutive completions to 20. This is a new program record, breaking Dave Humm’s 15 successive completions against Kansas on Oct. 19, 1974.
“I think he was superb last week,” Rhule said. “I thought early on, to be quite honest with you, his feet were a little bit out of whack. I thought (offensive coordinator) Dana (Holgorsen) did a good job of getting him in phase, and I thought he was in command.”
Raiola himself deflected the credit to his receivers.
“They played outstanding, can’t say enough great things about them,” Raiola said. “Their eye for the ball, when the ball’s in the air they’re going to make a play. Even when they don’t have the ball, that’s what makes them all special is they’re selfless teammates. They’re going to block, and that’s how we got a lot of explosive plays, was catch and run and then guys turning up the field, and blocking. So that’s selfless football, and it was a great effort by every single one of them.”
Senior Kentucky transfer wide receiver Dane Key and Raiola have been working all summer to develop a connection, and that has transferred to the field.
“Dylan’s a special quarterback,” Key said. “He’s one of the smartest quarterbacks that I’ve played with. He understands defense, he understands the scheme, so he’ll come to me, and be like, ‘Don’t do that, because if they’re sitting in that coverage, just stay right there and I’ll know, and I’ll just throw it right on you.’ So that’s pretty cool just to be a part of, because he’s so smart. He knows what he’s going to do it, how he’s going to do it, and where he’s going to throw the football.”
Last season, the 6-foot-3 230-pound signal-caller completed 67.6% of his passes, which is the most by a freshman in program history. Now, he’s off to an even more efficient start to the 2025 season, completing 78.6% of his throws.
Raiola’s put in a lot of work with Holgorsen in the offseason to improve his game, and the Huskers are reaping the rewards.
“It’s different when he’s out there, just from the communication, the confidence, just making routine plays, and getting the other ones to come along with him,” Holgorsen said during camp. “So his leadership is outstanding. The play is fantastic. He’s making throws that I’ve never seen before.”
Rhule said he’s been impressed with Raiola thus far, even if the sophomore hasn’t produced the kind of highlight-reel plays that garner headlines nationally.
“I think that everyone has to get used to the fact that when Dylan plays really well, I don’t want to see a ton of wow plays,” Rhule said. “I don’t want to see him running around throwing the ball sideways, I want to see him play quarterback, and what Dylan’s doing, is he’s playing quarterback.
“He’s elite before the snap, and I just hope everyone across the country appreciates it like I know most of you guys do.”
