Tag: Nebraska Football Dylan Raiola

Expert score prediction: Nebraska vs. Illinois

Big Ten Conference play arrives for No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night when No. 24 Illinois comes to Lincoln.

Big Ten Conference play arrives for No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night when No. 24 Illinois comes to Lincoln. With both teams looking to remain undefeated and ranked, the game is looking to be quite the battle. 

The Huskers and the Fighting Illini mirror each other strongly in this matchup. During the non-conference portion of their schedules, they each faced a non-Power 4 team, an FCS team, and a Big 12 team.

True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola is 59-of-80 passing for 670 yards and five touchdowns for Nebraska. Fourth-year quarterback Luke Altmyer is 54-of-78 this season for 647 yards and six touchdowns. 

The Huskers’ run game has racked up 514 total yards and seven touchdowns off 104 carries through the first three games. Illinois, meanwhile, has 460 yards off 105 carries for four touchdowns.

Nebraska’s defense has held opponents to 20 points, 555 passing yards, and 211 rushing yards through three games. They have also recorded four interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and delivered nine sacks. 

Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini’s defense held opponents to 26 points through three games, 455 passing yards, 377 rushing yards allowed, and two touchdowns. They also have six interceptions, including one for a touchdown and five sacks. 

Illinois’ last two weeks showed signs of first-half struggles. In the last two games, the Fighting Illini only scored 13 points in the first half, while Nebraska scored 79.

Illinois’ win over then-No. 19 Kansas also lost some credibility following the Jayhawks’ 23-20 loss to UNLV. Kansas slipped up several times during the Illinois game, including a screen pass that resulted in a pick-six, allowing the Fighting Illini to win. 

Illinois also struggled early against Central Michigan, a team that was blown out 52-16 by FIU last week. But after entering halftime up 13-6, the Fighting Illini pulled away in the second half to win 30-9. 

Nebraska controls the outcome of this game. They don’t need to wear down their opponents to deliver big strikes in their wins, something Illinois needs to remember. If the Huskers don’t make big mistakes like Kansas and control the line of scrimmage, they’ll walk away with the win. 

Score Prediction: Nebraska 27, Illinois 13

Expert score prediction: Nebraska v. Northern Iowa

Who will win on Saturday evening?!

The No. 24 Huskers conclude their non-conference portion of their season Saturday night against FCS foe Northern Iowa. 

From a glance, this should be a similar outcome to UTEP. However, numerous non-Power 4 teams showed last week that anything is possible. 

The Panthers come into Lincoln with a heavy-running offense, eclipsing its passing game almost three times over with 614 yards on the ground. Quarterback Aidan Dunne, meanwhile, stands with 23 completions off 42 throws for 215 yards and three touchdowns for Northern Iowa.

The Panthers’ heavy run game faces the toughest challenge this week: Nebraska’s defense. This challenge comes after escaping St. Thomas 17-10. Northern Iowa won off a rushing touchdown from a recovery by their running back, who lost the football but still managed to score. The Panthers got in position after a fourth-down stop on Thomas’ 25-yard line.

Northern Iowa held the Tommies to 168 passing yards and 129 rushing yards. In its win over Valparaiso, the Panthers kept the Beacons to just 108 passing yards and 16 rushing yards. 

This is similar to Nebraska’s defense, which also allowed just 17 points while surrendering 72 total rushing yards and 393 passing yards through the first two games. But Colorado scored all 10 points late in the second half when Nebraska started easing its foot off the gas. Even the touchdown allowed against UTEP was due to a slip-up on one drive. 

Nebraska’s offense is well-balanced, with quarterback Dylan Raiola throwing 423 yards and three touchdowns, while the run game has 372 yards and five touchdowns. 

However, while Northern Iowa has faced two FCS schools, Nebraska is a different animal for the Panthers. With it being another Saturday night under the lights for the Huskers, this should be another big outing. 

Score Prediction: Nebraska 45, Northern Iowa 6

Expert score prediction: Nebraska vs. UTEP

Nebraska has not won a season opener in five years.

Nebraska has not won a season opener in five years. Saturday afternoon, the Huskers will try to snap that streak with a showdown against UTEP.

But UTEP won’t be a team to drop the pickaxe and rollover. It’ll battle Nebraska throughout the game, searching for any signs of success it can carry into the rest of the season.

The Miners begin the Scotty Walden era, who takes over at UTEP after going 26-14 at Austin Peay. Walden is bringing a fast-paced offense to El Paso. Last year, the Governors ranked 14th in the FCS in total offense, averaging 426.8 yards per game.

This led to Austin Peay averaging over 34 points per game last season, towering over UTEP’s mark of just under 20. The Miners have announced that redshirt sophomore Skyler Locklear will start the game at quarterback. Locklear transferred to UTEP after spending the last two seasons at Austin Peay.

Trey Goodman should be a primary target in the receiving game. In 2023, he had 34 catches for 721 yards and seven touchdowns at Austin Peay.

The Miners are bringing back multiple veteran players on defense, including edge rusher Maurice Westmoreland, who finished second in Conference USA last season with 7.5 sacks.

They also bring in transfers in the secondary. Kory Chapman of Austin Peay and AJ Odums of New Mexico can cause fits for the Huskers’ passing game. 

However, an upset for UTEP in front of 90,000 people in Lincoln is not likely. This isn’t the 2018-2022 period where Troy and Georgia Southern pulled out the win or where South Alabama, Buffalo, and North Dakota gave Nebraska headaches. 

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola is entering his first game with an arsenal of talented players, which should translate into success against a Conference-USA defense.

Though there are bound to be mishaps in this opener, the Nebraska offense should be expected to light up the scoreboard throughout the game. 

The same can be said for the Blackshirts. Finishing as one of the top defenses in the country last year brings high expectations for the season. Though it, too, will likely slip up here and there, nothing should happen that will raise alarms. 

Score Prediction: Nebraska 38, UTEP 13

Dylan Raiola named to Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watchlist

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watchlist.

Another player for Nebraska football earned a spot on an award watchlist for the 2024 season. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Watchlist.

The award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry, who epitomizes great ability and integrity. The Watch List comprises 96 players from 37 different FBS schools, and candidates are selected based on past performance and future potential.

Raiola enters his freshman season at Nebraska as one of the nation’s top high school quarterbacks in the class of 2024. In his high school career, he threw for nearly 8,500 yards, 88 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions.

Raiola threw for 2,666 yards and 34 touchdowns his senior year, helping Buford (Ga.) High School to an 11-2 record. Dylan is the son of Dominic Raiola, who was a center at Nebraska from 1997 to 2000. Dominic was a first-team All-American and the Rimington Trophy winner as the nation’s top center.

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will choose the finalists and the winner. The five finalists for the award will be unveiled on December 3, and the winner will be announced on December 17.

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No. 1 offensive tackle of 2025 projected to commit to Tennessee

David Sanders Jr. is now predicted to head to Tennessee for his collegiate career.

The No. 1 offensive tackle in the class of 2025 is projected to commit to an SEC school next week. David Sanders Jr. is now predicted to head to Tennessee for his collegiate career.

Sanders Jr. narrowed down his choices to the Vols, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Georgia. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound lineman visited Lincoln twice in the last three months.

He took his official visit over Mother’s Day Weekend before returning on July 26 when quarterback Dylan Raiola asked fans to come out and welcome the 2025 recruit to campus.

Sanders Jr. is the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year in North Carolina after helping Providence Day to another state championship. The Charlotte, North Carolina native is set to announce his commitment on August 17.

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Nebraska football to host 2026 QB Dayton Raiola this weekend

A class of 2026 recruit is heading to Lincoln for a visit this weekend.

A class of 2026 recruit is heading to Lincoln for a visit this weekend. Quarterback Dayton Raiola, brother of current Husker Dylan Raiola, is coming to Nebraska on July 27.

Dayton received an offer from Nebraska during his freshman year at Chandler High School in Arizona in 2022. He also received offers from Appalachian State and Charlotte in January 2024. Dayton now enters his junior year at Buford High School in Georgia, preparing to play on the varsity level for the first time.

Dayton sat behind his brother through his freshman year at Chandler and his sophomore year at Buford, playing JV in both seasons. Dylan Raiola threw for 2,666 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just one interception.

Dayton appeared in only six varsity games last season at Buford. He finished 6-of-16 passing for 60 yards and one touchdown. The left-handed quarterback currently stands at 6 feet, 1 inch, and 205 pounds entering his junior year.

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SHOCK REPORT: Huskers making run at No. 1 quarterback in class of 2024

In a shocking report, the Nebraska Cornhuskers may be in the running for the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2024.

In a shocking report, the Nebraska Cornhuskers may be in the running for the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2024. College football analyst Steve Wiltfong has reported five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola will flip his commitment from the Georgia Bulldogs to the Huskers class of 2024.

Nebraska has made two previous runs at Raiola during his recruitment. Raiola had previously been committed to Ohio State. However, on May 15, he would then pick Georgia over Nebraska, Oregon, and USC.

This past season, he led Buford (Ga.) High School to an 11-2 record. He would throw for 2,819 yards while completing 63.6% of his passes. Raiola would also throw for 34 touchdowns and only one interception.

His father, Dominic Raiola, played at Nebraska from 1998 to 2000 and was a Consensus All-American and Rimington Trophy winner. He would have a successful 14-year career with the Detroit Lions.

The news is a stunning turn of events for the Cornhuskers, who have recently been having meetings and visits with quarterbacks currently in the transfer portal.

This is a developing story. You can find social media reactions to the news below.