4 days Ago By Eric Smithling, Yardbarker
Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola is trying to speak a bowl appearance into existence. On Monday, the five-star 2024 recruit made a bold promise, saying Nebraska (5-5, 2-5 Big Ten) will play in a bowl game this year. The Cornhuskers need one more win to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016.
Their seven consecutive seasons without a bowl appearance is the longest for the program since the 1940s. "We'll get the win next week and get us to a bowl," Raiola said. ( h/t On3.
com ) Sitting at 5-5 on the season & under a new offensive coordinator, true freshman QB Dylan Raiola promises bowl eligibility for the Cornhuskers: "We’ll get the win next week and get us to a bowl." Nebraska finishes the season vs. Wisconsin and at Iowa https://t.
co/tBMmRDts36 pic.twitter.com/pZYiZvosxf Nebraska hosts Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) this Saturday before ending the regular season at Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) in Week 14.
It's currently in a second-half slump for the second season in a row. In 2023, head coach Matt Rhule's first season, the Cornhuskers were 5-3 before losing their final four games to finish the season 5-7. Nebraska was 5-1 at the midway point this season before dropping four in a row, the last three by one possession each.
Nebraska is 4-13 all-time against Wisconsin . The Badgers have won 10 in a row in the series dating back to their 70-31 romp in the 2012 Big Ten championship game. The Cornhuskers have succeeded more against Iowa, leading the all-time series 26-17-1.
However, the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last nine. Nothing more perfectly signifies the once-storied Nebraska's downfall than a six-win season being a massive achievement. When Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and Frank Solich roamed the sidelines from 1962-2003, Nebraska was college football royalty, winning five national championships (1970, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1997) and having 22 seasons with double-digit wins.
It won at least nine games every season from 1969-2001. But Rhule must start small in building Nebraska back into a national powerhouse. Adding Raiola as a member of the 2024 recruiting class was one of those tiny but significant gains.
Per 247 Sports , he was the No. 7 overall prospect in the class and second quarterback, trailing Florida's DJ Lagway. Originally committed to Georgia, Raiola reversed course and agreed to begin his college career at Nebraska, where his family has deep ties.
His father, Dominic Raiola, was a former Nebraska center from 1998-2000. His uncle, Donovan Raiola, is the Cornhuskers offensive line coach. Reaching bowl eligibility will be a key milestone for Nebraska's rebuild under Rhule, but it's far from guaranteed.
Despite ESPN's Football Power Index giving the Cornhuskers a 60.1% chance of finishing the season with six wins, Wisconsin and Iowa won't make things easy. ESPN Analytics gives the Badgers a 53.
2% chance of winning in Week 13, while Iowa has a 75.3% chance to win the regular season finale. This season, Raiola is 203-of-310 (65.
5%) for 2,112 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions..
