Nebraska faces Iowa in its annual Black Friday rivalry game, head coach Matt Rhule found himself dealing with unexpected questions about the future of his quarterback room. Instead of discussing final preparations for the regular-season finale, Rhule was pressed about a CBS Sports report claiming that sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola is considering entering the transfer portal after the season.
Meeting with media in Lincoln on Thursday, Rhule made it clear he had no knowledge of the report and emphasized that he would not publicly discuss a player’s private decisions.
“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 is in there getting treatment right now. I don’t know anything about that.”
The CBS report, from national college football insider Chris Hummer, stated that Nebraska is “bracing” for Raiola to “explore leaving,” according to unnamed sources. Speculation grew louder after Raiola’s younger brother, Dayton, a 2026 quarterback recruit, which he de-committed from Nebraska last week, just days before national signing day on Dec. 3.
For Rhule, who has centered his Nebraska rebuild on consistency and development, the timing of these rumors is far from ideal. With new NCAA rules, the transfer portal does not officially open until Jan. 2, 2026, though players are allowed to announce their intentions beforehand. If Raiola does decide to enter, he would not appear in the portal until that date, and the window would remain open only through Jan. 16.
Raiola was ruled out for the remainder of the season after breaking his leg in the second half of Nebraska’s home loss to USC on Nov. 2. Before the injury, he threw for 2,000 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. Production that made him a major piece of Rhule’s long-term vision for the program.
Since the injury, Nebraska has split its two games behind true freshman TJ Lateef, who has taken over starting duties.
As Nebraska turns its attention to Iowa, Rhule now faces the task of keeping his team focused while navigating swirling questions about the future of his quarterback room. Whether Raiola stays or leaves, the situation underscores the central role Rhule plays in stabilizing the program during an unpredictable and high-pressure stretch.
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