LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska football program posted a picture of Dylan Raiola moving into his dormitory on one of its social media platforms and it was viewed nearly 14 million times in a week. His hairstyle and sunglasses prompted a flood of comments about how much he resembled Patrick Mahomes.

The anecdote illustrates the excitement and expectations for the highest-rated recruit in program history among a fan base that's endured seven straight losing seasons, the Cornhuskers' worst stretch since the 1940s.

Raiola was the nation's No. 1 or 2 quarterback prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, and he had pledged to Ohio State and Georgia before he flipped to Nebraska in December. Anticipation has been building since. On Wednesday, he was named the starter for the Aug. 31 opener against UTEP.

How does the son of Nebraska All-America center Dominic Raiola tune out the noise?

“First, my faith,” he said. “I wake up every morning, give my devotion, and it sets your day off right and you protect yourself from the world. And then I have great parents that have raised me correctly and have taught me the way to act and how to be around people and keep the distractions out.”

It also helps that his uncle, Donovan Raiola, is the offensive line coach and his sister, Taylor, is a graduate manager for football recruiting.

“To have family in the building is very comforting,” Dylan said.

As for similarities between Mahomes and Raiola, both wear jersey No. 15, and Raiola has trained with Mahomes' longtime personal coach, Jeff Christensen. Raiola said it's cool if fans want to say he looks like Mahomes. He said he can only aspire to play like him.

“Just try to do my thing," he said, pausing. “My hair? I guess it looks like his.”

Can Nebraska improve?

The Huskers haven't won more than five games since 2016. They had four losses by three points while going 5-7 last year.

“If I say 10-2 is good, or 8-4, I'm telling you I think we're going to lose four games,” coach Matt Rhule said. “I want to go out and try to win every game. So I guess what I’m saying to you is I expect us to be a really good team. If we’re 5-7 again, that’s not going to be enough.”

Those pesky turnovers

The list of priorities begins with cutting down on turnovers, an issue that carried over from the Scott Frost regime. The Huskers' 50 turnovers since 2022 are most among power-conference teams. Their 15 lost fumbles last year were most in the nation, and their minus-17 turnover margin was second worst.

“Having a minus-17 turnover ratio ... We might have won nine games, and I don't think we were necessarily a nine-win team," Rhule said. "That speaks to a lot of good things we did, but one thing messed it up. And so we’ll fix it.”

Upgraded receiving corps

The most improved position should be receiver, where the Huskers added transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor. Each has one year of eligibility.

Banks recorded more than 100 catches and 1,400 receiving yards in four seasons at Wake Forest. Last year he caught 59 balls for a team-high 653 yards and four touchdowns.

Neyor was one of the top receivers in the Mountain West for Wyoming in 2021. He transferred to Texas and missed 2022 because of injury and appeared in just one game last season.

Freshman Carter Nelson, who played tight end in high school, has moved to receiver and is in line for significant playing time. Tight end Thomas Fidone is set to build on a solid 2023.

It's about respect

Isaac Gifford, the Huskers' leading tackler last year, leads a veteran defense under coordinator Tony White. He said he returned for a fifth season rather than declare for the NFL draft because his work is not done at Nebraska.

The Gifford name has been part of the program for most of the last 10 years. Luke was a linebacker at Nebraska from 2014-18 and now plays for the Tennessee Titans.

“Since I’ve been here, it’s to get Nebraska to the place where everybody respects you,” Isaac said. “And that’s what we’re going to get done.”

The schedule

 

The Huskers open Aug. 31 against UTEP. Their first major conference test is Oct. 26 at No. 2 Ohio State. The closing stretch against Southern California (road), Wisconsin (home) and Iowa (road) will be a challenge. The nonconference highlight is Sept. 7 at home when they try to avenge last year's loss to old rival Colorado.

Nine Huskers Named to Senior Bowl Watch List

Nine Nebraska football players were honored Wednesday with selections to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist. They were among 859 prospects chosen nationally.  

The honorees include five Husker offense players: wide receiver Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, tight end Thomas Fidone and offensive linemen Micah Mazzccua and Ben Scott. Four senior Blackshirts were on the list, including defensive linemen Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson and defensive backs Tommi Hill and DeShon Singleton.

This total number is up significantly from past years due to the new addition of specialists and underclassmen, as well as the inclusion of many fifth and sixth-year seniors opting to use their extra Covid year of eligibility. The Big Ten was second among prospects with 161 total players.

The Huskers open the season on Aug. 31, when they host UTEP at 2:30 p.m. The game will be carried on FOX and available on the Huskers Radio Network.

Neyor Named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List

Nebraska senior wide receiver Isaiah Neyor was selected to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List on Wednesday.

Neyor, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver from Fort Worth, Texas, is in his first season at Nebraska after spending the last two seasons at the University of Texas, where he battled injuries and played in just one game. In 2021 at Wyoming, he was a second-team All-Mountain West selection, catching 44 passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the MWC in both touchdown receptions (12) and yards per catch (19.98), where he ranked in the top-10 nationally in the FCS.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or currently playing at Texas D1 four-year college.

The Huskers open the season on Aug. 31, when they host UTEP at 2:30 p.m. The game will be carried on FOX and available on the Huskers Radio Network.

Weber Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week

Senior Sarah Weber earned Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week recognition, announced by the conference on Tuesday.

The Gretna, Neb., native scored three goals in Nebraska’s 3-2 win over Colorado State on Sunday afternoon for the 35th hat trick in program history. 

This season, Weber leads the Huskers with three goals, good for the most by an individual in the Big Ten. She has six points (two points for a goal, one point for an assist) this season, which also leads the conference. In the first two matches of the season, Weber’s taken a team-leading 16 shots. 

Michigan’s Justina Gaynor was the Defensive Player of the Week, while Molly Pritchard (Ohio State) was the Goalkeeper of the Week and Minnesota’s Caroline Birdsell was the top freshman. 

Up next, the sixth-ranked Huskers continue their five-game homestand on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7:05 p.m. (CT). Action will be streamed on Big Ten Plus. 

Former Husker Hoops Assistant Jimmy Williams Passes Away

Former Husker men’s basketball assistant coach Jimmy Williams passed away Monday at the age of 77.

Williams, a longtime college assistant coach, spent seven seasons at Nebraska and played a major role in the Huskers making seven straight postseason appearances in that span, including the 1994 Big Eight Tournament title and the 1996 NIT Championship.

Willliams coached the Husker big men, including 1999 Big 12 Player of the Year Venson Hamilton, as well as longtime NBA performer Mikki Moore and Derrick Chandler during his tenure. Williams, who served as NU’s Associate Head Coach in his final three years in Lincoln, played a significant role in the Huskers recruiting efforts under Nee, including players such as Hamilton, Tyronn Lue, Cookie Belcher and Larry Florence.

Williams played collegiately at Ashland College, helping the school win a national title in 1970 before going into coaching. He coached at Minnesota, Tulsa, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Memphis along with the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.