There are moments in college football where perception gets tangled up with hype — and occasionally, with sheer ignorance. If you’re Dylan Raiola, Nebraska’s rising star under center, one of those moments has arrived in full, disrespectful force.
When CBS Sports’ Josh Pate released his Big Ten quarterback rankings for the 2025 season, there was anticipation that Raiola, fresh off a historic true freshman campaign, would finally get his due. Instead, he got a slap in the face — a No. 6 ranking, a placement so absurdly low it borders on offensive.
To say Raiola should feel insulted is an understatement. He should be furious.
This isn’t just about numbers on a list. It’s about what Raiola has already done versus what others have only promised. It’s about a quarterback who carried the weight of Nebraska’s battered legacy on his freshman shoulders, dragged it into postseason relevance, and came out the other side of the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl as a certified leader. He threw for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and completed over 67% of his passes in a season where he was expected to drown in the chaos of transition.
But apparently, that wasn’t enough to earn respect in Pate’s rankings.
Let’s examine this so-called top five:
- Julian Sayin (Ohio State) — supremely talented? Yes. Proven? Not even close. The former five-star hasn’t played a full collegiate game. He’s still an enigma, a fantasy based on high school film and spring whispers.
- Dante Moore (Oregon) — a name with cachet, but last season he was playing backup ball. There’s potential, but potential doesn’t win games. Raiola has done what Moore hasn’t — led a team as the guy.
- Desmond Williams (Washington) — a quality quarterback with flashes of brilliance, sure. But better than Raiola? Based on what? Certainly not consistency or command of the game in high-pressure moments.
The only two names that reasonably sit ahead of Raiola on this list are Drew Allar of Penn State, a bona fide NFL talent, and Luke Altmyer of Illinois, who made waves with impressive stats despite a shaky team situation. That’s fair. But everything after No. 3? It’s fantasy football logic run amok.
Here’s the truth: Dylan Raiola is the most battle-tested underclassman quarterback in the Big Ten. He’s not a mystery. He’s a warrior.
As a true freshman, Raiola didn’t have the luxury of a veteran offensive line or a stable of elite wideouts. He played behind an inconsistent front five and with a receiving corps still searching for its identity. And yet, he kept Nebraska relevant. He kept them fighting. He made Husker Nation believe again.
And let’s not ignore the leadership intangibles. Raiola could’ve transferred. With his pedigree and potential, he would’ve had suitors lined up from coast to coast. But he chose to stay in Lincoln. He doubled down. He committed himself not just to a team, but to a state, a legacy, and a future that demands more than flash. That demands grit.
Head coach Matt Rhule sees it. The offensive upgrades this offseason — a bolstered O-line, deeper receiving weapons, and a more balanced scheme — are tailored to take the training wheels off and let Raiola cook. The “hero ball” moments from his freshman season will fade, not because Raiola has changed, but because now, he doesn’t have to do it all alone.
So let Josh Pate have his rankings. Let the talking heads salivate over potential while Raiola sharpens his edge in silence.
Because come fall 2025, Dylan Raiola isn’t just going to rise up the Big Ten rankings — he’s going to burn them down.
And when that happens, don’t be surprised if he looks into the nearest camera and whispers: “Remember where you had me ranked.”
Closing Thought:
Some quarterbacks are made in headlines. Dylan Raiola is made in the fire. And in 2025, the Big Ten is about to find out just how hot Nebraska’s young gun can burn.
