Dylan Raiola officially announced his transfer from Nebraska to Oregon at the start of the year. The move was immediately labeled curious by many because it didn’t guarantee him a starting spot with Dante Moore in the lineup.
Dylan Raiola’s Surprise Lincoln Appearance Draws Reactions From Nebraska Fans
Raiola made a return to Lincoln, where he was spotted attending a Nebraska softball game in support of his girlfriend, Skarlett Jones. Jones is a true freshman who joined the Huskers in August and only recently began her first college season.
Amid the seemingly harmless visit, Raiola’s unexpected appearance did not sit well with a portion of the Nebraska fanbase.
“Bad night to be a plate of nachos in Lincoln,” one said.
“Still never even thanked the fans of Nebraska on his way out,” a fan said.
“Went from hero (to when he committed) to villain in record pace,” one said.
During his high school career, Raiola built a strong reputation for his ability to make off-platform throws and deliver passes from multiple arm angles. Expectations from Nebraska fans were understandably high, and for a time, he met them.
Before suffering a season-ending injury in November, he set the program’s single-season completion percentage record. He threw for 2,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions before the injury last season, earning a 77.1 rating in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric.
However, Nebraska fans cannot deny Raiola’s contribution to the Huskers, as he led the program to a 7-6 record and its first bowl appearance since 2016. He passed for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions that season, setting a pair of records for freshman quarterbacks.
Because of those contributions, not all reactions were negative, and some fans came to Raiola’s defense.
“He is a good kid. Leave him alone. We as HuskerNation need to move on. Good luck to him in the future except when playing us,” a fan said.
“Is this newsworthy? He’s moved on. We’ve moved on…or need to. Posting this crap makes Husker fans look like the jilted ex,” one said.
“Good for him. Leave him alone,” one said.
Raiola has recorded 4,819 passing yards, completing 456 of 660 attempts for a 69.1% completion rate, along with 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Attention now turns to his next chapter as Oregon is preparing for its annual spring game on April 25. Fans are eager to see him in action, especially as he competes alongside other QB2 options like Brock Thomas and Akili Smith Jr.
