Matt Rhule is talking like Dylan Raiola has a future at Nebraska

There was recently a report that the Nebraska Cornhuskers were expecting star quarterback Dylan Raiola to potentially look at transfer portal options this offseason.

And yes, that's a possibility for any star player in this NIL and transfer portal era. Heck, the portal seems like it's continually open, and NIL basically makes every offseason an open "free agency" of sorts for college football players.

Nebraska would be wise to expect Raiola or his representation to at least field some calls to gauge his interest in leaving Lincoln, but it's more than notable that head coach Matt Rhule is talking like he expects the former five-star recruit to come back for his junior season.

In a recent news conference, Rhule talked about Raola's development as a quarterback and how he expects there to be another jump from Year 2 to Year 3. 

“Dylan made tremendous progress from Year 1 to Year 2, but there’s progress that needs to be made moving forward,” Rhule said, according to Thomas Goldkamp of On3. “I want to see him own that. It can’t be Corey (Campbell), it can’t be Kristen (Coggin), it can’t be me, it can’t be Glenn (Thomas). I want to see him take it and run with it, even in this time.”

Campbell and Coggin are both a part of Nebraska's strength and conditioning unit, and Thomas is, obviously, the program's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Any coach will talk about development over the offseason, but Rhule is, assumptively speaking, as if he knows Raiola will be working with Nebraska's staff to make improvements.

Matt Rhule is talking like Dylan Raiola will play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2026

In sales, that would be called an assumptive close, and perhaps what Rhule is doing here.

It is worth noting that Raiola is currently dealing with a season-ending broken fibula that he suffered in early November. He'll more than likely be ready to go at the start of the 2026 season, and perhaps he already realizes that staying with the same team as he rehabs from the injury could actually be beneficial for him.

Raiola will certainly get offers to transfer and probably offers with a ton of money attached to them, but perhaps it's in his best interest to stick with Rhule and the Huskers as he continues his development.

Clearly, Rhule thinks that is the case, and he's not shying away from putting the public pressure on his quarterback to get better.

“Dylan’s a tremendous worker. He loves to work on those things,” Rhule said. “But I want to see him make a jump. This is Year 3 coming up for him, and he’s got to become the quarterback that we all know he can be. That, honestly, in my opinion, we’ll help him, but that falls on his shoulders, and I’m anxious to see him do it.”

It sure sounds like Rhule expects Raiola back for 2026.