Even after a Week One victory, one Nebraska coach is already looking at his locker room and demanding more, especially when it comes to quarterback Dylan Raiola.
For many coaches, wins don’t erase mistakes, and they will continue pushing their teams to improve. No game is ever perfect, and the real work often begins after the celebration ends.
Why Is Nebraska’s Offensive Coordinator Demanding More After a Win?
With an opening-week victory in the rearview mirror and a game against the Akron Zips this weekend, the Nebraska coaching staff wants the offense to play better. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen explained exactly what Nebraska needs to do to improve.
Nebraska OC Dana Holgorsen says “we have to be more explosive” on offense and “right now we’re not.” Same was true in Tuesday’s practice.
Holgorsen says NU needs better downfield blocking and skill guys need to make more defenders miss.
Dylan Raiola “did what we asked him to…
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) September 2, 2025
Via the tweet, Holgorsen stated, “We have to be more explosive on offense, and right now we’re not.” He added that the same was true in Tuesday’s practice and that Nebraska needs better downfield blocking while skill players must make more defenders miss. Regarding his quarterback, Holgorsen simply said Raiola “did what we asked him to do.”
That quote can be interpreted in a few ways, especially when considering this weekend’s opponent. The Zips bring the 112th-ranked defense in FBS after allowing 426 yards in a loss to Wyoming. While that yardage total seems high, it’s also a bit deceiving. Despite giving up over 400 yards of offense, Akron only allowed ten points.
That defensive performance speaks well of the Zips, who sacked Wyoming’s quarterback Kaden Anderson five times. Holgorsen seems to be anticipating a tough game where points could be at a premium. As a result, he is stressing that if a Husker gets to the boundary, his teammates must create running lanes and blocking downfield.
Additionally, the specific mention of the wideouts feels like a point of emphasis. Instead of just running into a defender or taking a predictable path, Holgorsen wants more agile, creative moves that can lead to big gains.
However, the most telling part of the statement might be the lukewarm endorsement of Raiola. What does it mean when a coach says a sophomore quarterback just “did what was expected?” Did the offensive coordinator expect better play? What is the measure of going above and beyond, and what does that involve for a quarterback?
This is especially interesting given Holgorsen’s history. He has coached an impressive list of college quarterbacks. For example, Geno Smith had two seasons with over 4,000 passing yards under his guidance, and Will Grier had a similar feat.
How Raiola performs for the rest of the season could be traced back to this moment. While the term “QB guru” is often overused, Holgorsen might be the coach who pushes Raiola to a new level.
