Latest news with #DylanRaiola
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dylan Raiola's Heisman odds improve compared to his odds from last season
Dylan Raiola's Heisman odds improve compared to his odds from last season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Despite an underwhelming first year for starting Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, his odds to hoist the Heisman trophy have improved ahead of the 2025-2026 season. Last year prior to his freshman season his odds to win the Heisman were +8000 on BetMGM. They now sit at +4000 for his sophomore season. Here is what went into Raiola's rise in the sports books. New Additions on Offense In the 2024-2025 season the Cornhuskers offense struggled. They were ranked 94th in total offense in the country, ranked 103rd in points per game (23.5), and 65th in passing offense (227.7 passing yard per game). Raiola ended his first year of collegiate football with 13 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and 2,819 passing yards over 13 games. Advertisement Going into the 2025-2026 season the Huskers are ranked as the 25th best overall team according to the ESPN college football power index. And the moves they have made in the offseason have a lot to do with it. Nebraska added Rocco Spindler to their offensive line. He played right guard for the national championship runner-ups, Notre Dame. The redshirt senior started 23 games and allowed only two sacks. He was ranked as the third best interior offensive lineman in the portal. The Cornhuskers have shown that they are prioritizing improving one of their worst position groups from last season and it did not stop there. They went and picked off Alabama's starting right tackle from last season Elijah Pritchett. Pritchett was with the Crimson Tide for three seasons, playing both right tackle and left. Last season he started all 12 games. Advertisement Another addition that will help Raiola improve his play is senior wide receiver Dane Key from Kentucky. Key has totaled over 500 yards in every season he has played in college football. He had his best season this past year, cumulating a total of 715 yards on 47 catches. This comes with the Wildcats ranking 115th in passing yards a game (173.2). With another season of development for Raiola, combined with the moves that Nebraska has made, it is not crazy to think he is due for a breakout in his sophomore season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nebraska's Matt Rhule drops ‘dynamic duo' declaration on Dylan Raiola, Dana Holgorsen
The post Nebraska's Matt Rhule drops 'dynamic duo' declaration on Dylan Raiola, Dana Holgorsen appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Matt Rhule era hasn't quite kicked off just yet at Nebraska football, but the Cornhuskers are hoping that this is the year where they break out as contenders in the Big Ten. Rhule has overseen a number of incredible turnarounds in his third seasons at Temple and Baylor, and he plans on doing the same in Year 3 in Lincoln. Advertisement If that is going to be the case, there are going to have to be some changes and some major improvements from this Nebraska team. The Cornhuskers struggled mightily on offense last season with true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, causing them to bring in renowned offensive mind Dana Holgorsen midseason. Despite the duo's struggles last season, Rhule believes that the pair is going to lead one of the best offenses in the Big Ten at Nebraska next season, according to On3 Sports. 'His body looks great,' Rhule said of Raiola. 'And he and Dana [Holgorsen], I think are going to make a dynamic duo. I think we have a chance to be really special on offense.' Raiola had an up-and-down freshman season, but he showed flashes of potential greatness in the future at times. He has strong pocket presence and feel for the game, but inconsistency in accuracy and decision making hurt him at times. Still, he was able to throw for 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman. Advertisement Despite the highs and lows, Rhule has been impressed with Raiola heading into Year 2 at Nebraska and is expecting big things out of his young quarterback. 'To me, it's not about his highs being any higher. It's about his lows not being so low,' Rhule said of the Nebraska quarterback. 'It's the same for our whole team. What I've loved about Dylan is the consistency he's shown and bought into. He's the same guy every day. He's holding people accountable, starting with himself.' The Big Ten is one of the most loaded conferences in college football and that should be no different next season. Nebraska football will have to be one of the best teams in the nation on both sides of the ball in order to compete, and Rhule is planning on Raiola and Holgorsen lifting the Cornhuskers' offense to that level. Related: Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart gets offseason win in Bulldogs-Florida rivalry with homegrown commit Related: South Carolina football's LaNorris Sellers doesn't back Thomas Castellanos' Alabama diss
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tight end target Luke Sorensen commits to Nebraska football over Ole Miss
A four-star tight end recruit has announced his commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Luke Sorensen chose the Huskers over finalists Ole Miss and Penn State. Sorensen plays tight end for Servite High School out of Anaheim, California. It should be no surprise that the tight end chose Nebraska. The recruit recently told On3 that Nebraska's offensive scheme is attractive to him. Advertisement 'Nebraska is another school I like a lot. I think Dylan Raiola is a great quarterback and I like the offense they run too. I see a great opportunity to play there too. In their tight end room, I feel I could make an impact. It is Big Ten football, so they are looking for bigger tight ends like me.' In 11 games last season, Sorensen had 15 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns. The tight end is the sixth recruit for the Nebraska class of 2026. The Huskers have made the tight end position a priority on the recruiting trail and in their offensive scheme. With talent like Heinrich Haarberg, Luke Lindenmeyer, and Carter Nelson already on the roster, it should be no surprise that Nebraska would want to add to that depth via recruiting. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions. This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Top tight end target commits to Nebraska football over Ole Miss Rebels
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the Big Ten's top 10 nonconference games in 2025
Ranking the Big Ten's top 10 nonconference games in 2025 Many Big Ten teams have opted to take a conservative approach to nonconference scheduling following the recent round of conference realignment and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams. As a result, several programs don't have a power conference opponent on their out-of-conference slate. For example, Penn State was originally scheduled to host Virginia Tech this season on the back half of a home-and-home series, but the first battle, supposed to take place in Blacksburg in 2020, was canceled due to COVID-19. After the initial matchup was canned, the two were unable to find a solution and removed the second game as well. Other schools face similar situations, while some just opted to make their nonconference schedule as easy as possible, valuing wins as they battle for a playoff spot. Still, there are several high-quality battles slated for the 2025 season, including some highly anticipated Big Ten-SEC crossovers with bragging rights on the line. Here's a look at the top 10 nonconference matchups for Big Ten teams heading into the season. No. 10: Nebraska vs. Cincinnati, Aug. 28 The Cornhuskers are coming off their first bowl appearance since 2016, finishing last season at 7-6 after defeating Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Hopes are high that Matt Rhule can do what he's done at several previous stops, continuing to elevate a Cornhusker program that's failed to meet expectations in recent years. With star quarterback Dylan Raiola at the helm, Nebraska hosts Cincinnati, which made the move to the Big 12 two seasons ago and has struggled to compete. Though the Wildcats aren't a big brand, this matchup still represents a battle between power conference opponents, which has become increasingly rare in the modern era. No. 9: Minnesota at Cal, Sept. 13 The Golden Gophers round out their nonconference slate with a trip to the West Coast to take on Cal, which enters its second season as a member of the ACC. The teams have met six times previously, most recently in 2009, with the Golden Bears holding a 4-2 advantage in the head-to-head series. Both teams went through ups and downs last season but earned bowl eligibility, leaving the potential for this to be an entertaining game. Both head coaches are looking to return their program to where it was a few years back, with Minnesota winning nine or more games in three of four seasons from 2019-2022 and Cal peaking at eight wins under Wilcox in 2019. No. 8: UCLA vs. Utah, Aug. 30 Two former Pac-12 comrades will meet once more, this time with the Bruins in the Big Ten and Utah in the Big 12. The two have lots of recent history, and both are searching for better seasons after reaching just five wins in 2024. Though they now wear different conference patches on their jerseys, this regional rivalry could provide some fireworks in Week 1. No. 7: Illinois at Duke, Sept. 6 Two traditional basketball powers will clash on the gridiron in early September, with the Fighting Illini and Blue Devils both looking to continue a recent string of football success. A few years ago, both programs would be viewed as bottom-dwellers within their conferences, but that's changed recently. Both teams average over seven wins across the last three seasons and are primed for more success in 2025. Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini are coming off a 10-win campaign capped off with a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina, while the Blue Devils went 9-3 before losing to Ole Miss in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. No. 6: Wisconsin at Alabama, Sept. 13 The Badgers have taken a step back during Luke Fickell's first two seasons leading the program, and a brutal conference slate leaves a bleak outlook in Madison. Still, if the Badgers show improvement and get a few bounces, they could give the Crimson Tide a run for their money in a clash between the two super conferences. Regardless of the apparent mismatch on paper, this matchup will be better than most throughout the early weeks of next season. No. 5: Oregon vs. Oklahoma State, Sept. 6 The Ducks have been involved in some big nonconference matchups in recent years, including against Ohio State, Georgia and Auburn. This year, they'll host Oklahoma State from the Big-12, a team that struggled last year but had consistently put together solid seasons throughout the last couple decades. If the Cowboys can return to their 10-win ways that have become the norm under Mike Gundy, this could prove to be a major matchup and the first real test of Oregon's season. No. 4: Iowa at Iowa State, Sept. 6 Though neither program is a blue blood, both could easily be ranked to begin next season, providing the potential for a big game. Though they took a slight step back in 2024, the Hawkeyes have won at least eight games every year since 2016, and there's little reason to believe that trend won't continue in 2025. Pair that with the Cyclones, who are coming off Big-12 championship game appearance, and this could be one of the biggest games in the long history of the rivalry. No. 3: Michigan at Oklahoma, Sept. 6 It's fair to say neither team lived up to expectations last season, with the Wolverines following a national championship season by dropping to 8-5 in Sherrone Moore's first year as full-time head coach, while the Sooners fell from 10-3 in 2023 to 6-7 in 2024. Still, these are two blue bloods who've only met once before, an Oklahoma victory in 1976, making for a historic matchup. Both squads fully believe they can push for a playoff appearance this season, and a win in this game would go a long way toward that goal or be the reason one team falls short of it. No. 2: USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 18 Despite recent headlines about their inability to come to an agreement on scheduling future matchups, the two blue blood programs are slated to clash in 2025. The Trojans suffered a down year in 2024 at 7-6, while Notre Dame made a run to the national championship game before running into the buzzsaw that was Ohio State. Both schools have stacked strong recruiting classes and are expected to compete for playoff bids, leading to a likely top-25 matchup. Additionally, these two always tend to play each other tough in one of the nation's most storied rivalries. No. 1: Ohio State vs. Texas Aug. 30 In a rematch of last year's College Football Playoff thriller, the Buckeyes and Longhorns will clash in Columbus in a highly anticipated rematch, and easily the top nonconference game of the year. Per most betting sites, these teams have the two best odds to win the national championship this season. With star power across the board, huge name brands and an exciting rematch from last year's postseason, this game figures to be electric.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rumor Mill: Top prospects head to Nebraska for Hudl Future Forum
LINCOLN, Neb. – Some of the top high school football players from around the country came to Lincoln over the weekend. They were gathered at Hudl Headquarters for the Hudl Future Forum. The event featured a keynote speech from Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, several panels and more. Many of the prospects in attendance made their first trip to Nebraska and were blown away by the town and facilities they also got to tour. Rivals was on hand to speak with some of the players to get the latest with their recruitments. Advertisement CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info The Georgia native is close to being a top-100 player in the 2027 recruiting class. So he's hearing from a lot of good programs right now, including Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Nebraska and South Carolina. He's looking for the coaching staff that will feel like father figures since he'll be away from home. Advertisement He will probably commit during his junior season or shortly after completing this upcoming season. Fakatou has really blown up over the last year. The 2028 prospect has been overwhelmed with the process but currently Oregon and Notre Dame are two programs that have his interest early on. The coaching styles of both Dan Lanning and Marcus Freeman is something that will hold his attention throughout his recruitment. Hudson was the star of the Battle at the Boneyard 7-on-7 tournament Friday night. He was dominant during the tournament even though he admitted he was nervous heading into it. He's being recruited by all the best football and basketball programs in the country. That's important to him because he wants to play both in college. Advertisement Texas A&M, LSU and Florida are early standouts. He did pick up the Nebraska basketball offer while in Lincoln, too. Early playing time will also be a big factor in his recruitment. The Florida native spent a lot of the weekend with Trae Taylor and Ahmad Hudson as Taylor is recruiting them both to Nebraska. Those relationships are growing but Tennessee, Florida, Miami and Florida State are also making Matthews a priority. Matthews says that distance won't be a factor in his recruitment even though it has a Southeast feel to it. The plan right now is to commit at the beginning of his senior season. But he did leave the door open if he finds the right fit before then. Streets has shot up recruiting boards after a monster sophomore year. He named the defensive line coaches at South Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Florida State as a handful of coaches standing out to him. Advertisement His recruitment will come down to development, coach stability and how comfortable his family feels with the school he wants to choose. Taylor has his recruiting hat on in a major way for the Huskers now that he is in the 2027 class. Throughout the weekend Taylor has been attached at the hip to a pair of the best players in the 2027 class. Louisiana tight end Ahmad Hudson and Florida offensive tackle Mark Matthews were both in town for the 7-on-7 event and the Hudl event. Taylor believes if he can help Nebraska land them both, a top-five recruiting class could be coming to Lincoln in his cycle. Warren has been a player on the rise this offseason. The quarterback from Omaha Westside in Nebraska just took a camp swing to Florida State, Illinois and LSU. He'll take a visit to Ohio State to camp with them this upcoming week. Advertisement He picked up an offer from Florida State after a camp in Tallahassee and was impressed with the coaching staff there. The relationship with the Illinois staff is one to watch as well. His recruitment is really just getting started but he's gaining more interest by the week. Washington is a top-15 prospect in the 2027 Rivals250 and is part of a loaded group of defensive backs out West for his class. He's been on a lot of campuses and talked to plenty of coaching staffs. But what he's looking for is a position coach that will keep it real with him all the time, and he feels like he's found that so far at Nebraska, Ohio State and USC. Webb-Scott has been to a lot of programs around the Southeast, including South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Auburn. All these programs love his size and speed combination because he can bend well and turn the corner. Advertisement He's looking for a position coach to stay locked in with him all the way up until it's time for him to sign. But he also wants the right scheme fit. He'd like to play in a 3-3-5 or 4-3 that will allow him to use his skills off the edge. Williams is one of the top defenders in the 2027 class. The top corner in the country has offers from coast-to-coast. He's complimentary of a lot of programs with Texas A&M, Georgia, Washington, Oregon and Alabama all in the mix for him. But it's USC and UCLA that I have my eye on the most in his recruitment. The Trojans led now but he'll be back in Westwood on Sunday to give the Bruins another chance to impress.
