*Opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or thoughts of Adam Carriker
Matt Rhule was hired for the 2023 season to take over the flailing Husker football program. During his introductory press conference, it was made clear he wanted to bring back a physical brand of football to Nebraska. This vision was explicitly reinforced by then-Athletic Director Trev Alberts, who noted: “Matt is detail-oriented, his teams are disciplined and play a physical brand of football.”
In fact, since he was hired, Matt Rhule has made several remarks about wanting to be a team that runs the ball and throws play-action, refusing to compromise his long-term vision.
As Rhule stated during his first offseason, “I don’t want to take shortcuts. I don’t want to build something (where) we show everybody a little bit of hope this year, but the next year we take a step back.”
Rhule wasted no time in his inaugural season, bringing in transfer quarterback Jeff Sims from Georgia Tech. A dual-threat QB who had accounted for over 5,500 yards of total offense in his three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Sims demonstrated Rhule’s initial vision for this program: an athletic, mobile quarterback that has the threat to pull the ball, run, and make plays outside the pocket.
Alas, Sims did not live up to expectations at all. In his brief 2023 campaign at Nebraska, he played in just five games, throwing for 282 yards, one passing touchdown, and a costly six interceptions. While he added 189 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, the turnover woes ultimately benched him, and the marriage was over quickly.
For the following season, 5-star pro-style QB Dylan Raiola wanted to come to Nebraska. Raiola carried deep, undeniable family ties to the Huskers: his father, Dominic Raiola, is a Nebraska legend and All-American center who won the Rimington Trophy in 2000. Furthermore, Dylan’s uncle, Donovan Raiola, was already on staff as Nebraska’s offensive line coach. While I firmly believe Dylan was not the exact type of QB Rhule envisioned in his rebuild, there was no way he was going to turn away a 5-star quarterback with great arm talent and royal Husker bloodlines.
For a myriad of reasons, it never completely worked out. Dylan played well enough as a freshman and sophomore, helping elevate the program to back-to-back bowl games. He demonstrated his arm talent and his ability to apply touch and layer the ball often. However, he struggled with mobility and, in my opinion, had a below-average deep ball. His season-ending broken fibula at USC in November 2025 marked the end of his era at Nebraska, as he elected to leave for Oregon shortly after.
Matt Rhule now has Anthony Colandrea at QB this year. The senior and 2025 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year fits the mold of what I believe Rhule wanted from the beginning: a mobile QB with the ability to pull the ball, run, and create plays outside the pocket.
What I am getting at is that I think Rhule ultimately broke away from his rebuild vision for this team to accommodate Dylan Raiola. I don’t blame him; again, most coaches would have taken Dylan out of high school regardless of identity fit.
Now, entering his fourth year, I believe Rhule intends to get his initial vision back on track. Run the ball, throw play-action, and have a QB that is a threat to pull it and run.
With a tough 2026 schedule, it will be critical for Rhule to maintain, at a minimum, the improvements he has made with the program so far. Six wins feels like the floor for most critics this year, with eight wins being a sound improvement given the schedule.
He will also have plenty of opportunities to beat a Top 25 team, something the Huskers haven’t done since playing Oregon in 2016.
As Rhule adjusts going into year four, time will tell if moving on from Dylan will define his time at Nebraska or not.
Go big red.