Everybody needs a break once in a while, especially after facing a Big Ten front-seven. And what better time than a bye week for a quick beach trip deep in Wolverines’ territory? That’s exactly what Dylan Raiola and his family did.

On September 28, Dylan Raiola’s sister, Taylor Raiola, hopped onto her IG story and shared a snapshot of their boat weekend in Michigan, posting a picture of the Raiola family and friends posing for the camera and having the time of their lives during Nebraska’s bye week. Dylan Raiola is getting some R&R in the very state whose players handed them their first loss of the season? That’s saying something, right? Or maybe not. Either way, it was a much-deserved break for the young QB.

The former 5-star spent 60 minutes running for his life against Michigan’s front-seven in Nebraska’s 30-27 nail-biting loss in Week 4. It was a tough loss for Matt Rhule and Dylan Raiola to take it in, especially after the Huskers’ strong start to the season. But despite the L, Raiola played his heart out. The Michigan front-seven was on a burner like somebody had put a hit list on Dylan Raiola; the D-line registered 7 sacks against him. But it wasn’t enough to shut or mentally shake Dylan Raiola down.

Dylan Raiola was making all types of throws — Patrick Mahomes’ body-turn to the left and sling on the right, and all other kinds of plays. He finished with 308 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a 74% completion rate (30 of 41), and even threw a diabolical 52-yard hail-Mary right before halftime. That night, Dylan Raiola became the first gunslinger to throw a 300-yarder against the Wolverines since 2022.

What really gave the game away was Nebraska’s run game, or can say lack of one. The RB corps was basically non-existent against the Michigan defense, putting up just 43 yards on 31 carries, which is like embarrassing 1.4 yards per carry. That collapse killed their third-down chances, too, with the Huskers going just 2-for-12. Dylan Raiola wasn’t getting help from anybody either. His offensive line let him get pressured on almost every play (36 of 41 drop-backs), and his defense wasn’t much better, giving up 7.3 yards per play.

Raiola was basically a one-man army against the Wolverines. Meanwhile, the Wolverines were running circles on Nebraska; they casually flexed 286 rushing yards. Dylan Raiola had every right to call out the Nebraska defense. Instead of pointing fingers, Dylan Raiola took one for the team, showing maturity: “Point it at me. I’ll take it.”

Dylan Raiola’s statement after the Wolverines game

Rather than criticizing Nebraska’s protection or receivers, Raiola credited Michigan’s defense and emphasized his own need to improve. “Hats off to them. I need to find a way to get the ball out quicker,” he admitted. He also gave props to Michigan’s run game for rushing almost 300 yards: “They play hard, and they get to the football.”

When asked about the locker room, he projected confidence: “Be careful. We’re gonna come together and do something scary.” He also backed his teammates, noting, “You can’t take one game and judge it off that. They’re gonna come back stronger than ever.”

Statistically speaking, Dylan Raiola showed growth from his freshman year. Through four games, he boasts a 75.6% completion rate, connecting on 102 of 135 passes for 1,137 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also thrown only one interception in 2025, a testament to his improved decision-making. His season QBR stands at a solid 77.0, reflecting his overall effectiveness leading the Cornhusker offense. Now, he’s on track to surpass Joe Ganz’s single-season passing record, which has stood since 2008.

With a bye week behind them, the Michigan State Spartans come to town on October 4.