Nebraska football misses out on top QB recruit to old Big 8 adversary.

There was a time when Alex Manske was considered the top quarterback target for the Nebraska football team in the 2025 class. For whatever reason, things simply didn’t go how Matt Rhule and company once hoped they would.

On Saturday, it appears that a door closed. Manske made the move that was expected for a few weeks. He pulled the trigger on a commitment and did so with Iowa State. In the process, he said that going with the Cyclones was a dream come true. Taking that into account, one has to wonder how much fo a shot Nebraska really had.

In addition to the Huskers, the 3-star quarterback out of Algona, Iowa, chose ISU over Iowa, Kansas State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. It’s certainly interesting how many programs that seemingly have more resources than Iowa State lost out for Manske. 

Once again, you have to wonder if Nebraska football was ever really in this race. At least once it was clear that Matt Campbell and company were coming calling.

Alex Manske made it clear that it appears it would have been as hard to rip him away from the Cyclones as it would be to steal away a Lincoln kid from the Nebraska football program when he was talking to 247Sports about the decision.

“I’d say just just the culture,” Manske said. “The coaches, and just wanting to stay home and play for the team I always have grown up watching.”

Nebraska football misses out on top QB recruit to old Big 8 adversary.

There was also apparently a promise that he would be the only quarterback Iowa State recruited. “And he’s told me he wouldn’t want to lead this program with anyone else,” Manske added about what Campbell used as the closing argument.

The Nebraska football program likely hasn’t made that argument. With Dylan Raiola in tow, it would have been a hard one to make anyway.