*Insert Spiderman pointing meme*. That’s what Dylan Raiola is trying to do with Patrick Mahomes. The Nebraska quarterback and the three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback both play the same way and look alike.
Raiola was a five-star quarterback prospect coming out of Georgia. He committed to the University of Georgia in May of 2023. However, due to NIL, loyalty, or legacy, he flipped to Nebraska in December of 2023. Raiola’s dad, Dominic, played for Nebraska as a lineman.
Raiola signed up to be part of the Nebraska revitalization under head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule took over the program in November 2022 after flaming out in the NFL. Rhule’s college record isn’t flashy, but he quickly rebuilt Temple and Baylor. As a college coach, Rhule is well-respected. His Baylor rebuild came after the school was ravaged by scandal.
Raiola and Rhule are tasked with bringing Nebraska football back! But what exactly would that look like, and how good is Raiola?
Bringing Nebraska Back!
Nebraska has won five National Championships. That is more than Penn State, Florida, Florida State, and Texas. By all accounts, Nebraska should be a powerhouse and national brand.
Last season was Nebraska’s first bowl game since 2016. National powers do not go on an eight-year bowl drought. Due to this, Nebraska is looked at as a sleeping giant of sorts. However, their last National Championship was in 1997, and their last 10-win season was in 2012. An 18-year-old recruit would’ve been five years old in 2012.
Nebraska is in the Big Ten and competes against big-time programs such as Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Michigan, and USC. They are not close to being a shoo-in for the playoffs, even if the Big Ten gets four automatic qualifiers.
Nebraska needs to take baby steps as a program, instead of trying to get it all at once. The Nebraska vs Iowa rivalry is one of those key areas. Nebraska has only won twice in 11 games against Iowa. If Rhule can get Nebraska to consistently beat Iowa, it would be a great step toward bringing Nebraska back.
Raiola was awful against Iowa last year; he led the offense to 10 points. The Iowa game will be at home this season, and will be a key indicator of how Nebraska and Raiola have developed.
How Good is Raiola?
Yes, Raiola does play like and look like Patrick Mahomes. This is misleading. Mahomes was a better athlete in college and in an air raid system that utilized his strengths.
Mahomes threw more touchdowns (16) in seven games his freshman season than Raiola did (13) in 13 games. Raiola showed flashes of his potential in his first season at Nebraska. However, there were some concerning stats for someone who has an NFL arm. He only averaged seven yards per completion. In his last five games, he threw for four touchdowns and three interceptions. Raiola’s footwork is inconsistent as well, and he leaned on his arm a lot of times. However, he was a true freshman starting in the second-best conference in the sport.
Every throw Dylan Raiola makes looks effortless ‼️ pic.twitter.com/S1cqiElr8Q
— Blackshirts (@blvckshirts) July 18, 2025
Nebraska will be more talented around him. They brought in wide receiver Dane Key from Kentucky and are going to be better on both lines of scrimmage. Raiola should benefit from the entire team being better around him.
Nebraska has USC, Michigan, and Penn State as its toughest Big Ten games. Two of those are at home. They have a manageable schedule, and Raiola should benefit from this.
Conclusion
Raiola is confident in his ability to get Nebraska over the hump and compete for a playoff appearance. I believe Nebraska is still a year away. Rhule has never been known for having elite quarterback play; rather, he is just a great coach and motivator.
Raiola’s obsession with Mahomes is weird, especially considering Raiola’s lack of first-year success. However, it’s hard to knock a young man for having an idol.
Raiola needs to produce this season more than Nebraska needs to be good. Their futures are tied together, and a better Raiola would mean a better Nebraska.
Featured Image: Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
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