Nebraska’s 7-6 record might not blow anyone away on paper, but Matt Rhule’s impact on the Cornhuskers is undeniable. In his first season, Rhule matched his predecessor’s best win total (5-7) and then delivered Nebraska’s first winning season since 2016, capping it with a bowl victory over Boston College in 2024. That kind of turnaround has Husker fans buzzing, but the real test is just beginning. It looks like it won’t be all smooth sailing, with Dylan Raiola’s past casting a shadow and hinting at a bumpy road ahead for Nebraska in 2025.

Rhule has a fanbase cautiously optimistic, but consistency remains the big question. Nebraska hasn’t hit the 9-win mark since 2016, and despite last season’s promising finish, the pressure is on to take the next step. On May 16th, On3’s Ari Wasserman laid out the challenge, pointing out that the Huskers have been their own worst enemy in recent years.

“They shouldn’t be losing games in frustrating, agonizing ways,” Wasserman said. “For how bad their record is, they were a statistical anomaly in how many one-possession games they were losing. If they can get that out of their system, that puts them in a position to win half of those one-possession games.” He added, “Now the next step is winning all those games that you have a chance to win, which is the hardest part. It’s going from top 50 to top 30, going from top 30 to top 15. So it’s winning the Iowa game when you go into the fourth quarter up 10-3.”

In 2024, Nebraska fell short in several tight matchups against teams like Iowa State, USC, UCLA, Ohio State, and Illinois. These are the types of games Rhule must flip if the Huskers are to reach that elusive 9-win mark. Analyst Tom Fornelli sees potential, projecting Nebraska to surpass their 7.5-win over/under in the Big Ten. His optimistic outlook relied on Nebraska beating Cincinnati, Akron, Houston Christian, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, USC, and Iowa—a set of wins that would include impressive upsets over Michigan and USC. However, his forecast also included losses to Maryland, Minnesota, UCLA, and Penn State, outcomes largely tied to Nebraska’s progress under coach Matt Rhule.

And Andy Staples weighed in with his final take. “I think that Nebraska fans should feel pretty good if they win eight games this year. Feel really good if it’s more than that. That’s just gravy. That’s fantastic. But if you can go 8-4, you are on the right track. Because if they go 8-4, there’s a really good chance they just won the games they were supposed to win. So if you do better than that, now you’re beating teams that maybe you’re not supposed to beat.”

Then Ari Wasserman reinforced that view, making a bold prediction for Matt Rhule’s team, stating, “So I feel like 10 wins could be a pretty reasonable goal.” However, Penn State could be a significant hurdle. Ultimately, achieving this hinges on Dylan Raiola improving his gameplay and leading the Huskers to a 10-win season. So, with Raiola’s past in the backdrop, can he truly be the catalyst for this predicted success?

Dylan Raiola’s past haunts Nebraska’s future

Dylan Raiola knows redemption never comes gift-wrapped. Entering 2025 as Nebraska’s starting quarterback, he’s out to prove himself. While comparisons to Patrick Mahomes abound, Raiola quietly amassed 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, setting freshman records for passing yards and completion percentage (67.1%). However, those 11 interceptions are raising concerns.

This year, expectations aren’t subtle; they’re immense. Raiola leads a resurgent Nebraska team aiming for ten wins, not just bowl eligibility. Coach Matt Rhule stated post-spring—“He [Raiola] is ten steps ahead of where he was, and where he was pretty cool.” With Raiola at the helm, both on the field and in the locker room, and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen implementing a more quarterback-friendly system, Raiola aims to excel, not just survive.

Still, On3’s Andy Staples warns about the danger zones Dylan Raiola must dodge. On a May 16th HuskerOnline episode, Staples highlighted the common struggles quarterbacks face between their first and second starting seasons: “The biggest jumps tend to come between year one as a starter and year two as a starter for quarterbacks.” Staples added, “Raiola last year, as the schedule got harder, he got worse.” That’s a straight fact. After wins against Purdue and Rutgers, his early success was derailed by four straight losses to Indiana, Ohio State, UCLA, and USC.

However, Staples acknowledged Nebraska’s mid-season offensive scheme change contributed to Raiola’s struggles. The arrival of new offensive coordinator Holgorsen presents both opportunity and risk; will the new system better suit Raiola’s abilities? Ultimately, Raiola’s improvement depends on improved timing, pocket presence, and trust in the system. Staples concluded, stating, “If he can do all those things, then Nebraska will be better.”

And what’s a vital part of that puzzle? Getting weapons involved. Staples focused on Dane Key, a wide receiver whose potential at Kentucky was never fully utilized. “Dane Key is a guy that, at Kentucky, you thought, ‘Okay, this guy’s all, you know, all set to break out.’ And they could never get him the ball. If Raiola can get Dane Key the ball, how good is that relationship going to be?” With a fresh mix of new talents and maybe even a quicker, ten-pounds-lighter Raiola, the upcoming season for the Huskers is definitely one to keep an eye on. Will this be the year they finally turn the corner?