Joel Klatt predicts what Nebraska can be with Dylan Raiola at quarterback

Joel Klatt predicted Nebraska could play meaningful games in November with Dylan Raiola at quarterback.

To get there, he just has to be a net positive for the Huskers. It all starts this Saturday when Colorado comes to town.

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So far so good though, as Raiola was as good as advertised Week 1.

“Well, if he is just a net positive for Nebraska, then Nebraska will be playing meaningful games for the CFP when it comes to November,” Klatt said on his podcast. “That’s actually the standard. You see, everyone has been talking about Dylan Raiola being possibly the savior for Nebraska, and he’s going to rescue them, and so on and so forth. 

“But here’s the thing, if you actually study them and watch them and see what they did a year ago, you’ll see that this team was very close a year ago, and they had, I would say, a net negative in quarterback play.” 

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Raiola finished the game 19-of-27 passing for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Essentially, if Nebraska did not turn the ball over ad nauseum in 2023, the team is much better off.

“There’s no doubt with the schedule ahead of them that they’ll be playing meaningful games as it relates to the College Football Playoff in November,” Klatt said. “It was a bit of a wait and see for me after that first game, and he showed some flashes. So yeah, I think he’s really good. But again, let’s just peel it back and actually say what it is. If he’s just a net positive, then Nebraska is playing meaningful games in November when it relates to the College Football Playoff.” 

But to even get to the midseason point undefeated, Colorado comes first. If there’s a slip up this week, Raiola and the Huskers might have a tough slate after all.

“So how big is this game against Colorado this week at home in Lincoln,” Klatt said. “I think it’s the difference between them having a loss or two before Ohio State and probably being undefeated if they go into Ohio State. You see, if they lose to Colorado, they’re likely going to be in another one score game against like, let’s say, a Rutgers team that’s vastly improved under Greg Schiano. 

“So then you can say like, well, if they lose to Colorado, they could probably lose another one before they get to Ohio State. But if they beat Colorado at home, then there’s no one else that really scares you, because they’ve put themselves on a level where they can beat two extraordinary players in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. So then all of a sudden, you’re looking at that schedule, and you think to yourself, yeah, they’re absolutely going to be a 7-0 team going to Columbus.”