Dylan Raiola and Matt Rhule are turning things around for Nebraska in 2025. The star QB, after an impressive start last season, is returning as a leader for this one. “Chasing perfection,” he wrote on Instagram, locked in with the Kobe Bryant mentality. That seems to be the motto for the whole team, including the HC, as they near the season. This year, the odds seem to be in Rhule’s favor, which could possibly allow Nebraska to tally double-digit wins.

2024 was a mixed bag for Nebraska. Those 7 wins seem like a consolation against the 6 losses that they incurred. But they did have their shining moments. Rhule particularly succeeded in getting the freshmen to perform well. Then there was Dana Holgerson, who proved crucial for the offense to make their wins. After their loss to Indiana, which began their losing streak, things looked bleak for the Ohio State game. They lost but showed heart and spirit until the very end. This season, they’re banking on those factors and a few more to make 2025 their year.

On3’s J.D. PicKell thinks Rhule has a serious chance of winning 10 games this season. “There’s no Ohio State, no Oregon. As of yesterday, we found out you’re going to play Michigan with no Sherrone Moore on the sideline,” the analyst pointed out. That leaves them with winnable games in general, like the ones against Cincinnati, Maryland, Minnesota, and UCLA. “They could be what Indiana was a year ago,” PicKell said, alluding to the program’s impressive 11-2 record under new HC Curt Cignetti.

But that’s not all that will lead Nebraska to the dream result. “Matt Rhule’s year three teams: Why they’re so successful, is they’re now in their third year of doing things his way. And his way works, all right? It’s culture. It’s toughness,” PicKell said. The analyst also added that those close losses, especially in the fourth quarter, won’t be happening this year. “Nebraska is now a team that can win in the margins. […] It’s a maturity thing for Nebraska,” PicKell said.

That maturity shows a lot in Raiola in his second year as the starting QB. He’s turning out to be a leader in the room and stands a chance to even outshine Rhule as the face of the program. But when it comes to his overdone comparison to Patrick Mahomes, Raiola is set to witness a unique crossover this season.

Matt Rhule and Dylan Raiola will mark a special moment in the season

The two quarterbacks look the same, have the same jersey number, and somewhat resemble each other in playing style. But the schedule this year presents Baby Mahomes to play in the shadow of his superior. Raiola will travel to Kansas City for their season opener, aka, Mahomes’ home. “You mean to tell me that Dylan Riyola, who cosplays as Patrick Mahomes opening an Arrowhead, is going to play in Arrowhead?” mused Jake Crain of the Crain & Co. podcast.

That match is a significant moment in either team’s history since they’ll be meeting for the first time after 1906. Pickett also joked that this game might just be a “home game” for Raiola. The matchup is also in the iconic NFL venue of Arrowhead Stadium, and we need no further telling of the magic Patrick Mahomes has cast here. The last time Raiola came here, he trained under Bobby Stroupe, Mahomes’ trainer.

It didn’t prove to be all that beneficial to the doppelganger, but this time, Raiola will make a history of his own if he wins the game. He’s modeled almost his entire look and game to be like that of the Kansas City QB. But, alas, that wasn’t the case. The consistency issues showed, and the alarming number of sacks added more concern for the Mahomes torchbearer.

It all seems to be lining up for Nebraska this year. Some huge opponents are out, and an easier schedule makes way for the Huskers to make it big this year. With Matt Rhule now as a seasoned Huskers HC, the stage is set for the team to produce some good results. It also presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Dylan Raiola to finally give the fans what they always wanted.