Heralded Nebraska freshman QB Dylan Raiola takes his lumps in OT loss to Illinois

Updated Sep. 21, 2024 1:19 a.m. ET

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Dylan Raiola got his reality check Friday night.

The highest-rated recruit in Nebraska program history had been lavished with praise for his performances in his first three games as a collegian.

The Cornhuskers' 31-24 overtime loss to No. 24 Illinois showed Raiola that the game doesn't always come easily, even to five-star prospects.

“Let this one hurt for a day or two and move on from it,” Raiola said. “It’s the same preparation every week — win, lose or draw. When you come up short, you find out what your team is about. We’ll come watch the tape and get ready to go next week.”

Raiola was 24 of 35 for 297 yards and three touchdowns, and for the second week in a row he had hard-luck interception.

“I thought Dylan was superb in many, many ways,” coach Matt Rhule said.

But one play that will gnaw at player and coach came with the game tied late in regulation. Luke Lindenmeyer broke free behind the defense on a third-and-3 from the Illinois 21. Raiola lofted a pass well beyond Lindenmeyer in the end zone. That left the Huskers to send backup kicker John Hohl to try a 39-yard field goal, which he missed.

“I saw Luke run wide open and I missed a throw to win the game,” Raiola said. “That was our chance to go win the game. I’ll take this game on my back. I’ve got to get better and be better for our team and put us in position to win.”

Raiola in the first half was as sharp as he was in the first three games, smoothly going through his progressions and at one time dumping off to a running back as his fourth read. He completed 10 of his first 12 passes and hit Isaiah Neyor for two touchdowns to put the Huskers up 17-10 at half.

The fourth quarter and overtime were rough.

On one series he lost 9 yards and recovered his own fumble and two plays later was sacked and fumbled, with Nebraska offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula recovering that one. He overthrew Lindenmeyer on the next series. He was sacked on three of Nebraska's four plays in overtime, the last one ending the game.

Raiola was sacked five times for the game. Asked if the night was his welcome-to-the-Big-Ten moment, he demurred.

“It wasn’t anything different,” he said. “Just same old football. It’s not a different kind of football playing in the Big Ten and playing (against) other conferences. It was fine, it was fun. Great atmosphere.”

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