Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule pushed back Wednesday against speculation that star quarterback Dylan Raiola is considering leaving the Cornhuskers, dismissing a CBS Sports report that cast doubt on Raiola’s future in Lincoln.
“I haven’t seen that report,” Rhule said. “I don’t know anything about that. I would never get up here and talk about a player. I love Dylan like I love all my guys. He’s in there doing treatment right now. So I don’t know about that.”
The comments come amid growing uncertainty surrounding Nebraska’s quarterback room. Raiola, a former five-star recruit, suffered a broken fibula on Nov. 1 against USC and is sidelined for the remainder of the season. Before the injury, he had thrown for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns to six interceptions, adding to a career total of 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions across 22 games.
The CBS Sports report also noted that Raiola’s younger brother, Dayton, recently decommitted from Nebraska, fueling speculation about the family’s long-term ties to the program. Dylan originally flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska, following in the footsteps of his father, Dominic, who played center for the Huskers from 1997 to 2000.
For now, Raiola remains focused on recovery. He underwent surgery earlier this month and is targeting a return in 2026. Rhule has emphasized the mental side of rehab, encouraging Raiola to journal his experiences as a way to process the challenges of injury and recovery.
“When I told the team I was staying, I read off like the journal from the day I got fired in Carolina, what I thought was my darkest moment,” Rhule said. “So you can’t be the competitor that he is and not have some tough days. At the same time, it’s an unbelievable opportunity for him to see football from another standpoint.”
Nebraska closes its regular season Friday against Iowa, but the bigger storyline may be whether Raiola’s future in Lincoln is as secure as Rhule insists—or whether the whispers of a transfer will continue to haunt the Cornhuskers.