Nebraska is again wondering about the future of its starting quarterback Dylan Raiola.
The Huskers held on to Raiola last offseason after his camp had informal talks with other programs about potentially entering the transfer portal. Sources tell CBS Sports that Lincoln realizes this offseason could be different as Nebraska prepares to waive Raiola. Raiola has not played a game since November 1 after suffering a broken fibula. His younger brother, Dayton Raiola, committed to Nebraska’s 2026 class last week — fueling rumors.
Dominic Raiola, Dylan and Dayton’s father and former All-American at Nebraska, declined to comment when asked about this story and Dylan’s future.
Dayton Raiola, younger brother of Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, decommitted from the Cornhuskers
zachary parales
Dylan, a former five-star recruit and one of the biggest signees in program history, earned approximately $3.5 million this season. He is Nebraska’s highest-paid player; This intake puts him at the top of all college football players.
Any transfer decision won’t be about money — sources say Nebraska is expected to increase its total zero/rev-share payouts next season, and will spend heavily in the coming weeks to retain key roster pieces this offseason — and instead, for both parties, offer a blank slate as Raiola enters his potentially final year of college football with the NFL Draft and a potential College Football Playoff appearance on his mind. Raiola played most of 10 games in 2025, throwing for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Many dominoes remain on the 2026 transfer portal quarterback market, and there is no guarantee that Dylan will want to leave or find a better position elsewhere. A fractured fibula won’t jeopardize Raiola’s chances of starting the 2026 season on time. Last offseason, Carson Beck transferred from Georgia to Miami and received a pricetag of nearly $4 million despite a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
November and December are a common time for contract gains in this era of college athletics. Players are being bought across the country. But following Dayton’s decision to begin his recruitment and with the information that Raiola’s camp was considering a transfer last season, Raiola’s situation is being considered tenuous.
In an interview earlier this year, Dominic denied that Dylan had ever given any real thought to leaving the program last winter. But trial balloons were sent out — and coach Matt Rhule sat down with his then-new quarterback in the days before the portal opened to make sure they were on the same page.
“I just had an authentic and long conversation with Dylan and he made the decision,” Rhule told CBS Sports in September. “Then I said, ‘Okay, let’s go out and bring in the players you want and the players I want (in the order) to be the team we want moving forward.'”
After confirming Raiola’s return, Nebraska really went heavy into the portal in the 2025 cycle, adding multiple four-star prospects at key positions like wide receiver, offensive line and EDGE.
Nebraska started the season 6–2 (including a close home loss to now No. 16 Michigan) before Raiola lost in an eventual 21–17 loss against USC on November 1. The Huskers are 1-1 since his injury and are coming off a blowout loss at Penn State. Nebraska, which will be bowl-bound for the second straight year, ends the regular season on Friday against Iowa (12 p.m. ET, CBS).
The Huskers are excited about the future of their quarterback room. Freshman quarterback TJ Latiff, who started in Raiola’s absence, has a strong starting lineup. He has thrown for 653 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and is completing 70.4% of his passes. Nebraska also has a verbal commitment from its top target in the 2027 class, the No. 35 overall prospect in the country, Trae Taylor.
The college football transfer portal won’t officially open until Jan. 2, but that won’t slow down the news of expected entries and back-room negotiations across the country. They have already started and will only advance when most teams finish their seasons this weekend.
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