Matt Rhule has now dealt with his fair share of coaching headaches, but he probably didn’t anticipate having to navigate his QB1 controversy over an extra 10-20 pounds. Yet, here we are. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska’s prized signal-caller, has reportedly put on a little too much weight this offseason, raising concerns about his mobility. Now, carrying a little extra isn’t necessarily a bad thing—just ask Patrick Mahomes, who has made the “dad-bod QB” aesthetic work just fine—but for a sophomore trying to establish himself as the face of a program, it’s not exactly the best foot forward. Rhule, ever the tactician, is trying to control the narrative, insisting that Raiola will thrive under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. But as the scrutiny intensifies, it’s clear that the head coach has more than just his quarterback’s diet to worry about.
Mitch Sherman of The Athletic was quick to downplay the hysteria surrounding Raiola’s weight gain. “First of all, it’s only 10 pounds heavier than what Dylan [Raiola] is listed on the roster. So it’s not like it’s a shock,” Sherman pointed out, taking a more measured approach. There’s also a genetic factor at play here. “Dylan’s got genetics to deal with when it comes to his body composition. His dad [was an] offensive lineman. His uncle [was an] offensive lineman. For some people, it’s just not as easy to maintain 220 pounds at 6’3.” That’s a fair point. Raiola comes from a bloodline of big-bodied football players—his father, Dominic Raiola, was an NFL center for over a decade, and his uncle, Donovan Raiola, is currently coaching the Nebraska Cornhuskers offensive line. But while those genes may explain the natural weight gain, they don’t excuse a lack of mobility. If Raiola is going to be the signal-caller Matt Rhule needs him to be, he’ll have to strike the right balance between size and agility.
Rhule, meanwhile, is staring down a 3rd season of immense pressure. HuskerOnline insiders put it bluntly: “This is really the first year of expectations for Matt.” Year one? That was about laying the groundwork. Year two? A solid seven-win campaign, but nothing groundbreaking. Year three, though—this is when Rhule has to show that his long-term vision is actually moving in the right direction. “He’s in year three, and he’s right. Matt Rhule has sold how hard year three is. Big year three is in his deal. And year one wasn’t a great year. Year two, you could argue they won seven, and you know, nine was very much attainable.”
That nine-win mark is the elephant in the room. Nebraska wasn’t far off last season, and anything less this year would be viewed as stagnation. The margin for error is razor-thin, and if the Dylan Raiola situation isn’t managed properly, it could snowball into a full-blown distraction.
Then, of course, there are the ghosts of Nebraska’s past—the ones that Rhule is still trying to exorcise.
The UCLA game remains a turning point, a moment where everything seemed to unravel. “I still go back to the UCLA game, how much that week changed everything,” the insiders said. “It led to Dana Holgorsen, led to Phil Snow… we don’t know—oh, not really, not really Phil Snow. Phil Snow came in that week. That’s when he came in on campus.” Phil Snow’s arrival, first as a consultant and then as a full-time presence, was a direct response to Nebraska’s struggles. And the changes didn’t stop there.
“Then a couple of weeks later, it led to Tony White moving.” This wasn’t just a coaching shuffle; it was a complete shift in philosophy, an attempt to hit the reset button after a season-defining loss. But as much as Rhule tries to move forward, the past still lingers. Now, the Huskers find themselves in a delicate balancing act.
Raiola’s development is crucial, but so is managing expectations. The weight concerns, while minor in the grand scheme, have become a symbol of the scrutiny surrounding this team. Every detail is magnified, and every misstep is analyzed. Matt Rhule has been here before, in situations where the pressure is cranked up and patience runs thin. But Nebraska isn’t Baylor or Temple. This fanbase has been starved for relevance, and they’re done waiting.
Matt Rhule balances tradition and flash
The cancel-spring-game revolutionist, Matt Rhule, now isn’t promising that Nebraska will suit up in flashy alternate uniforms this fall. But he’s certainly thinking about it. And recruits are making sure he knows it’s on their minds, too.
“They’re like, ‘Coach, when are we wearing this uniform or that uniform?’” Rhule said, sharing how some of Nebraska’s top targets from Florida and Georgia have brought up the topic. It’s a question that goes beyond fashion—it’s about recruiting, identity, and staying competitive in the modern college football landscape. Nebraska football has always been about tradition, toughness, and that iconic red-and-white look. But in today’s game, where elite prospects gravitate toward schools with both history and swagger, image matters.
“It’s kind of hard for me to say, ‘If I do that, people are going to be upset,’” Rhule said. “Do you want the good recruits? We’ve got to just make a decision here, where we want to go.” The Huskers have dabbled in alternate uniforms before.
Who could forget the Adidas-designed “superhero” look in 2012, featuring a massive ‘N’ in place of the player’s number? But typically, Nebraska keeps it classic, rolling out alternates only once or twice a season—and in 2024, they skipped them entirely. Now, as Rhule enters year three in Lincoln, he’s weighing every detail of Nebraska’s path to success—including what they wear while doing it.
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