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Matt Rhule and Nebraska could miss out on the best years of Dylan Raiola

The new age of the transfer portal has proven to work for many of the previous Heisman Trophy winners.
ByEricka Brockish|
Oct 11, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws from the pocket during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Oct 11, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws from the pocket during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The news of Dylan Raiola's intention to enter the transfer portal certainly comes as a blow to the Nebraska football program, but it is one that was also expected. A lot of signs show that Raiola was probably leaning towards the portal with his season-ending injury, his brother's de-commitment from the Cornhuskers, and his uncle getting fired.

Nebraska will now either have to turn the reins over to quarterback TJ Lateef, who stepped in after Raiola's injury, or Rhule will look for his next starter in the transfer portal. Even though he acted like he didn't know anything, Rhule should have been planning for this.

The biggest gut punch to come with this news is the latest stat that came out after Fernando Mendoza was announced as the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. The stat shows that seven of the last 10 Heisman Trophy winners transferred schools before winning the award.

  • 2025: Fernando Mendoza: Cal to Indiana
  • 2024: Travis Hunter: Jackson State to Colorado
  • 2023: Jayden Daniel: Arizona State to LSU
  • 2022: Caleb Williams: Oklahoma to USC
  • 2021: Bryce Young: Alabama
  • 2020: DeVonta Smith: Alabama
  • 2019: Joe Burrow: Ohio State to LSU
  • 2018: Kyler Murray: Texas A&M to Oklahoma
  • 2017: Baker Mayfield: Texas Tech to Oklahoma
  • 2016: Lamar Jackson: Louisville

The transfer portal seems to have been good for Heisman Trophy winners as of late, so could Raiola be another player to benefit?

Dylan Raiola's next school could seriously benefit from his transfer

Looking at the stat above, wherever Raiola goes next could be the place he wins a Heisman and helps build his draft stock exponentially. Now, this is not a guarantee, but Nebraska may have been the place that Raiola felt could only take him so far.

A new school could provide a new coaching staff to help Raiola grow his talents. If that is the case, Rhule and Nebraska could be missing out on Raiola's best years with his choice of transferring after only two years in college football.

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