Dylan Raiola is the key to Nebraska football taking next step

Like every offseason, the hype machine is working overtime, pumping up Nebraska football.

Yet, it also feels like there is a good reason for that. I know you probably felt the same way about Scott Frost and Adrian Martinez going into the 2019 season, and that, like so many others in recent memory, turned out to be a massive disappointment.

Even last season’s 7-6 record was disappointing. Nebraska football should have won nine games. The Huskers should win nine games this season, too.

However, if Nebraska football is going to take the next step and compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff, there is only one way that’s happening: A big jump from Dylan Raiola.

Raiola was solid as a freshman. He threw for over 2,819 yards, completed 67.1 percent of his passes, and had 13 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions. Those numbers aren’t perfect, but considering that Iowa hasn’t had a quarterback put up numbers like that since the 1980s, be thankful.

The former five-star quarterback has the talent to take Nebraska football to the next level, but you need an elite quarterback to get there.

As much as Matt Rhule wants to talk about recruiting talent to beat teams like Ohio State, Nebraska isn’t there yet. But the one thing that can drastically elevate the ceiling of the entire program is Dylan Raiola becoming one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks. He is the kind of dude Ohio State goes after, and was once committed there.

So anything short of an all-conference selection, first, second, or third team, would be a disappointment for Raiola in his sophomore season, especially with offensive guru Dana Holgorsen calling the plays.

We saw the impact it had on Raiola last season. He completed over 70 percent of his throws in three of the four games after Holgorsen started calling plays. Against Wisconsin, he completed 73 percent of his passes for 293 yards and a touchdown (zero interceptions).

If Nebraska football gets that Dylan Raiola, for anywhere close to 12 games, this team will make the College Football Playoff this season and win double-digit games.

All of the pieces are in place for Nebraska football to finally take a step back into college football contention. But you need stars, and if Raiola can shine bright this season, the Huskers will too.

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