Dylan Raiola makes promise about Nebraska bowl game

Sep 7, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) leads the team into the facilities before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola made a pretty strong statement about his team’s bowl hopes with two games left in the season.

Raiola essentially guaranteed a bowl berth in 2024 while discussing the changes the team’s offense is making under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. The quarterback pledged that the 5-5 Cornhuskers will win at least one of their two remaining games, either at home against Wisconsin on Saturday or at Iowa on Nov. 29.

“I spent all bye week with (Holgorsen) and then obviously the game week,” Raiola said, via Chandler Vessels of On3. “It’s important knowing what he’s gonna call and what he likes here and why he’s calling it so we can execute at the best of our ability. But we’re only gonna keep building on it these next two weeks. We’ll get the win next week and get us to a bowl.”

Nebraska probably did not expect this to be necessary a few weeks ago after getting off to a 5-1 start. They have since lost four in a row since then, including a damaging home loss to UCLA that they likely would have expected to win. That is especially true after they came up just short against Ohio State in a very competitive and controversial finish.

Raiola’s play will be a huge part of whether Nebraska can get the win they need or not. Over Nebraska’s last four losses, he has only thrown two touchdown passes compared to seven interceptions.