Dylan Raiola QB Grade: Nebraska vs. Cincinnati

Raiola spread the ball well, finishing the first half 13-of-19 for 121 yards and that touchdown to Hunter. In the second half, he kept the Huskers moving with efficient throws and connected with another new weapon, Kentucky transfer Dane Key, on a touchdown that stretched the lead.

Key and Hunter showed out all night long, giving fans a preview of what they can expect from the recieving room this season. An upgraded group of wideouts would go a long way towards the offense taking the jump that it needs in 2025.

While Raiola did look good most of the night, not everything was perfect. On a key fourth-and-2 early in the third quarter, Raiola nearly handed Cincinnati a pick-six when his throw went straight to a defender who couldn’t hang on. Against a better defense, that mistake could have changed the outcome of the game.

Nebraska’s lack of explosive passing plays also left room for concern. As pointed out in the post below, Raiola did not really push the ball down the field and settled for a lot of short completions.

However, taking what the defense gives you is something that veteran quarterbacks are expected to do effectively. Raiola showed some patience when the big plays were not there right away.

Raiola finished with strong numbers: 33 completions on 42 attempts (78.6%), 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He protected the football, looked more poised than a year ago, and showed real chemistry with his new receivers.

The Huskers won because Raiola was steady, not spectacular. That’s progress for a young quarterback who sometimes forced throws last season. Now, he’ll need to keep building confidence while cutting out near-disasters like the would-be pick-six.

Grade: B