Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule announced his quarterback has the skills to play professional football. The coach’s latest comments about freshman Dylan Raiola go beyond typical praise for a first-year player.
Raiola sits fifth nationally in completion percentage at 78.1 percent through two games. He’s thrown six touchdowns without an interception and has connected with 15 different receivers.
But Rhule’s focus stays on qualities that win games.
“I think Dylan Raiola is one of the best players in the country..
He’s playing Quarterback at a very high level”@CoachMattRhule #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/VgFT9xCpky
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 11, 2025
“He’s so underappreciated nationally. … [Dylan Raiola] is doing everything you’re going to do on Sundays. I think he’s one of the best players in the country.”
Nebraska quarterbacks struggled with turnovers last season. The team finished with a poor turnover margin, something Rhule says must change for the program to compete nationally.
Raiola’s ball security stands out early. He’s throwing more passes than nearly anyone in the top 30 nationally but hasn’t given the ball away.
Rhule praised Raiola’s willingness to play within the offense instead of forcing big plays. The quarterback has spread passes across the roster, which shows he’s reading defenses properly rather than looking for highlight throws.
“Whoever’s open gets the football,” Rhule explained.
Raiola showed this approach on a red zone touchdown to Dane Key. The play was designed for Jacory Barney, but Raiola read the coverage and rolled right.
He found Key and threw a pass only his receiver could catch.
“That’s a wow play,” Rhule said.
The coach believes Raiola’s performance in key situations matches what NFL quarterbacks do. We’ll see if that continues as the season progresses in Lincoln.
