The Michigan vs. Nebraska game on Saturday promises the kind of Big Ten fireworks fans crave. It’s going to be a real quarterback duel with playoff stakes hanging in the balance. Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s prodigy and Nebraska’s star quarterback, Dylan Raiola, both arrived on campus with five-star expectations. Michigan’s 2-1 start leans on Bryce Underwood’s dual-threat play while coach Sherrone Moore wraps up his suspension. Underwood’s got a total of 628 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 1 pick so far, which is quite good for an eighteen-year-old. And now, before fans get to see those recruiting hype reels crash into reality in Lincoln, a former NFL quarterback has given his take on both of them.

Currently, Raiola is in great form for Nebraska. He’s got 829 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and zero picks so far this year. The Huskers are averaging a ridiculous 545 yards of offense per game and absolutely blowing teams away. With all eyes on Lincoln for the most hyped QB battle of the weekend, the takes are flying—and former NFL quarterback Danny Kanell didn’t hold back. He clearly picked his favorite for this showdown. Kanell loves what Matt Rhule is building at Nebraska, but he thinks this is the game where Underwood cements himself with a road statement.

Now that’s a major verdict for the 18-year-old coming from the legend himself. But why? Kanell, never one to hedge, broke it all down on the CBS Sports College Football show for his followers and posted the video on X. “Who’s got the better arm strength?” asked the host, and it became the first point of comparison. “Bryce Underwood has a cannon for an arm,” Kanell replied. “He could probably throw it 70 yards from one knee. Dylan’s got an adequate arm, but it’s not as good as Bryce’s,” he further elaborated. Underwood came in as a true freshman and set a new passing yards record in his debut. Analysts and practice observers said the velocity jumped off the screen.

And there’s also a video from Michigan’s ReliaQuest Bowl practices showing Underwood casually hurling bombs 60 yards in the air. And that’s not even accounting for those senior year clips at Belleville from last year, where Underwood’s tossing 65-yard ropes on the run, making high school defenders look like traffic cones. Former QBs and NFL scouts have already called his delivery “quick and compact.” 

Remember that long throw against Oklahoma during week 2? He uncorked a 44-yard jump ball to McCulley mid-drive, giving Michigan the deep-play threat it desperately lacked last season. No Michigan QB since Denard Robinson (it’s been 12 years) has tilted the field with sheer arm talent like this. By comparison, Dylan Raiola flashes good, but not elite, arm strength.

Scouts like Chris Singletary have praised his mechanics and velocity, but even his own breakdowns admit his arm isn’t quite as “rare” as Underwood’s. Next up was “Poise In Pocket.” In regard to this, Kanell said, “I’m gonna say this: experience helps. I’m gonna go with Dylan right now.” Coming into his sophomore season, the Buford, Georgia native has quickly set himself apart. Unlike many young QBs who panic or flee when blitzing linebackers or stifling pass rushes close in, Raiola faces the heat like a pro. Raiola’s a pocket passer. During Nebraska’s overtime loss to Illinois last year, where he racked up 297 yards and three touchdowns, he showed how strong his pocket game can be when he’s locked in and calm.

This can be a bit of a costly habit, as per QB coach Glenn Thomas. “He’s such a good processor, anticipation sometimes too much, right?” Thomas added. “If he doesn’t anticipate something’s going to happen, trying to get through the progression, just take what’s there.” But this pocket ability comes with experience, which Underwood is still grappling with.

Next in Kanell’s list was athleticism. “I’m gonna go (with) Bryce,” he said. “I think he’s got more upside in mobility. He can get outside the pocket. He’s probably more of a power runner, and Dylan has adequate mobility, but Bryce is more of a legit run threat.” Underwood is a raw athletic specimen who dominated in high school with his legs.

He rushed for 568 yards in his senior year and showcased a physical, power-run style that mixes speed and strength. And his running game lit up against Central Michigan. He torched Central Michigan for 114 yards on the ground. He pulled off something the program hadn’t seen since 2013. However, Michigan has been cautious about letting him run too much as a true freshman. But Raiola hasn’t quite turned into a dynamic runner yet. He can scramble, too, like that 38-yard run at Ohio State last year. Although he has been working to make that part of his game.

Danny Kanell had other points to discuss as well, apart from the technicalities of both the quarterback’s games.

It’s not all about the fundamentals!

When a comparison begins, it doesn’t just stop at the fundamentals. Kanell also rated them on “aura.” He said, “You gotta go with Dylan on this one.” Everyone knows that no one can win against “Mini Mahomes” in the aura debate. The comparison to Patrick Mahomes stems from the fact that Raiola shares many of the same traits with him. From a young age, Raiola impressed coaches and fans with his arm talent, improvisational skills, and the ability to extend plays under pressure, all hallmark traits of Mahomes’ game.

Plus, Raiola trained in the offseason with Mahomes’ quarterbacks coach, Jeff Christensen, and performance coach Bobby Stroupe, getting a masterclass in how to think and move like an elite pro. And let’s not forget the haircut. Lastly and most importantly, the debate ends with their NFL career. “I think they’ll both have legit careers,” Kanell said. “But Bryce Underwood looks early to be a one of one.” Raiola’s got the makings of a great pro athlete, but questions linger about his footwork.

Underwood, on the other hand, wows scouts with his sheer physicality: a cannon of an arm paired with genuine mobility and power running that makes him a dual-threat nightmare. It puts him on the radar as a first-round talent with a quick learning curve despite some rookie growing pains. But their age gap becomes a major contrast for this comparison. You see, this is Raiola’s year two with the Cornhuskers, and he is clearly going to make the pros before Underwood does.