Nebraska football recruiting hit with loss in QB race to Big Ten rival

The Nebraska football team has been putting in a tremendous effort in recruiting, but it's been a tough week for them. Despite a massive official visit weekend, Matt Rhule and company have mostly watched some of their top targets go elsewhere, especially regarding offensive line offers.

It’s not just the 2025 recruits that have left the Huskers high and dry. Surprisingly, even some 2026 recruits have chosen to head elsewhere. This includes at least one quarterback target NU had high hopes for until this week.

It’s harrowing that the Nebraska football team lost out in the fight for Oscar Rios and on Oscar Rios to a conference rival. And then add the final insult that it’s a conference rival NU usually doesn’t have to worry about.

Nebraska football loses the horserace for 2026 quarterback to Purdue

Rios officially pulled the commitment trigger for the Purdue Boilermakers. That he’s a 2026 commit who has decided to head to a historical Big Ten also-ran should raise eyebrows. 

This is one of those recruiting battles that seems strange. It’s primarily a bit of a wake-up call that the pro-style quarterback prospect chose a team in the heart of Indiana because he’s not from the area. 

The 3-star prospect hails from Downey, California, and is rated as the 15th-best quarterback in the class for pro-style gunslingers.

Of course, while the quarterback has pledged to Purdue, it’s still pretty early for his class. Likely, those who were recruiting him will only ramp things up as the years go on.

Rios does have a long list of programs looking for his services. He has garnered offers from several prestigious universities across the country. In addition to the Nebraska and Purdue, his list of offers includes Auburn, Kansas, Washington, Utah, Michigan State, Cal, Arizona State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Arizona, and UNLV. These offers reflect his impressive performance on the field, showcasing his strong arm and mobility​.

Of course, it is possible that one reason Rios left the Nebraksa football team out in the cold is that the community believes the Huskers have already found their 2026 quarterback in Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Dylan Raiola, the projected 2024 starting quarterback.