Dylan Raiola promises bowl eligibility while evaluating Nebraska OC change

Dylan Raiola vowed to Nebraska fans that the team will make a bowl game this season. The Cornhuskers have not played in a bowl since 2016 and are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, having recently made a change at offensive coordinator.

Nebraska went from Marcus Satterfield to Dana Holgorsen and Raiola played his first game under the new coordinator this past week in a 28-20 loss to USC. In spite of the result from that game, the quarterback is confident the offense will find its footing over the final two games.

“I spent all bye week with (Holgorsen) and then obviously the game week,” Raiola said. “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.”

Raiola completed 27-of-38 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, but threw two interceptions in the loss to the Trojans. He now has nearly as many interceptions (10) as he does touchdowns (11) on the season.

However, it was only the first game under Holgorsen and Raiola thought there was improvement in the play calling. Once the team grows more comfortable with the change, he believes things will begin to click.

“I like a lot of what we did,” he said. “The tempo of it, the personnel. Things were kind of simplified for us a little bit so we could play faster and play more free. I think we did that. A few plays here and there, but overall I’m proud of our guys.”

Nebraska currently sits at 5-5 on the season and just needs to win one of its remaining two games for Raiola’s promise to come true. The Cornhuskers’ first chance to do so will come against Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday.

“I think we’ll make the biggest jump from this week to the next,” Raiola said. “Husker Nation’s probably having a lot of doubt and a lot of uncertainty. It’s up to them. I think we’re gonna roll into these next two games and roll into the bowl game. Then next season we’ll see and get rolling from that point.”