Matt Rhule is trying to shut down the idea that Dylan Raiola left Nebraska with any lingering animosity.
After Raiola’s exit to Oregon stirred up plenty of speculation, Rhule made it clear Monday that the relationship between the two is not fractured. The Nebraska coach said he was happy to hear how Raiola performed after stepping in for the Ducks against Oregon State, even though Rhule didn’t actually see the game because Nebraska had just beaten Michigan State.
“There’s no doubt that Dylan is an elite quarterback,” Rhule said at his weekly press conference. “He got in there, he got a chance to play.
I hope Dante’s okay. It’s kind of an unfortunate football play.”
Raiola threw for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns after Dante Moore was injured, and Rhule said he was thrilled to hear the update. He also framed that reaction as part of a broader approach he’s taken with former players, pointing to the way he has stayed connected with Christian McCaffrey from their Carolina Panthers days.
Rhule has been consistent on that point. Ahead of the Michigan State game, he spoke about Kenneth Williams, who began his Nebraska career as a running back and kick returner before transferring to Michigan State in the offseason.
Williams had a strong 2025 season with Nebraska, finishing with 12 kick returns for 395 yards and a 95-yard return for a touchdown. This season, he has 8 kick returns for 172 yards. Against the Huskers on Saturday, he brought back 3 kicks for 90 yards, including a season-long 47-yard return, and added one carry for eight yards.
Raiola’s departure drew far more attention than Williams’ did, in part because of the circumstances around it. Rhule fired Raiola’s uncle, Donovan Raiola, and Dayton Raiola went with him, which led to plenty of talk that the quarterback and coach were no longer on the same page. Raiola also didn’t post a goodbye to Nebraska fans on social media, which only added fuel to that theory.
Rhule pushed back hard on that reading.
“I love Dylan,” Rhule said. “Great, great, great kid, great family.
Played here for me. Everyone that plays for me, I root for.”
Nebraska and Oregon meet on October 17, and Raiola could be back in the spotlight in Eugene if Dante Moore remains out with a concussion.
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Nebraska Suddenly Faces A Dylan Raiola Twist Matt Rhule Didnt Hide
Dylan Raiolas name has suddenly come back into Nebraskas orbit in a way few around the program probably expected. During Oregons game against USC, starter Dante Moore went down with an injury and Raiola stepped in, then helped push the Ducks to a 41-27 win. For Nebraska, it adds another layer to a matchup that already carried plenty of interest, especially with Raiola having once been part of the Cornhuskers future before ending up in Eugene.
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Six sacks and just 39 rushing yards allowed gave the performance a hard edge, the kind of road win that can change how a team is viewed inside its own league. Maryland is next on the schedule, and the Terrapins are already navigating a difficult season with more tough games ahead, which makes Nebraska's growing momentum feel even more relevant now. [Read more 🡒]