Nebraska Eyes New Direction at Quarterback as Transfer Portal Buzz Swirls
The winds of change are blowing through Lincoln, and they’re picking up speed under center.
Multiple reports this week have pointed to a significant shift for the Nebraska Cornhuskers at quarterback, with signs indicating that Dylan Raiola may be heading for the transfer portal. While no official announcement has been made, the conversation is already echoing through the halls of Memorial Stadium-and the coaching staff isn’t dodging the topic.
Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who met with reporters ahead of Nebraska’s Dec. 31 bowl matchup against Utah, didn’t confirm Raiola’s departure. But he didn’t exactly shut the door on it either. What he did offer was a candid look at the challenges that defined Raiola’s time in Lincoln-and the broader offensive struggles that accompanied it.
“There’s times where I thought we were really headed in the right direction. There’s times where we weren’t,” Holgorsen said. “I mean, that falls on me-not just from his perspective, from the whole offense’s perspective.”
That kind of accountability isn’t just coach-speak. It’s an acknowledgment that Nebraska’s offensive identity is still under construction. And whether Raiola stays or goes, Holgorsen made it clear that the focus is on building around the players who are fully bought in.
“I’m not going to speak on any of that,” Holgorsen added when asked directly about Raiola’s future. “I really loved working with Dylan. He’s a great kid and gave a lot to this place for two years.”
That’s a classy nod to Raiola’s time with the program, but Holgorsen also acknowledged the reality of today’s college football landscape: the transfer portal is no longer an exception-it’s the expectation.
“It’s a new norm,” he said.
And in that new norm, programs have to be nimble. Holgorsen isn’t looking to dwell on who’s leaving. His focus is on who’s staying-and who’s next.
“At the end of the day, my job’s not done here,” Holgorsen said. “Coach Rhule hired me to come in and get us as good as we can on offense, and I don’t feel like we’re at that point right now.”
That’s not just a statement of intent-it’s a challenge. Nebraska’s offense has shown flashes, but consistency has been elusive.
With quarterback turnover looming, Holgorsen knows the next signal-caller needs to be more than just talented. He needs to fit the vision.
“The way I look at it is you get the best player you can,” Holgorsen said. “We can mold our coaching around what that player does well and what his skill set is.”
That kind of flexibility will be key as Nebraska hits the recruiting trail and evaluates the growing list of quarterbacks entering the portal. The Huskers won’t be short on options come January, and the next few weeks could shape the future of the offense for years to come.
But for now, the focus remains squarely on the present. With a bowl game against Utah on the horizon, Holgorsen and the Huskers are keeping their eyes on the postseason prize.
The quarterback questions can wait-at least until the final whistle blows on Dec. 31.