Patrick Mahomes’ stadium becomes Raiola’s stage in Huskers opener

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is gearing up for a unique trip to Arrowhead Stadium this week, one filled with expectations and history.

“Yeah, it’ll be different,” Raiola said. “Normally I’m going down there to have a good time, watch some good ball, but this is a little different mission and to go down there and win a football game. So, obviously, my mindset will be different. The guys will be juiced up and ready to go on both sides of the ball. Tremendous respect for Cincinnati. I think they’re going to play a really hard football game. So, we’ll have to come with our game.”

The Arrowhead stage even had Dylan, who’s known for his uncanny resemblance to Patrick Mahomes, checking in with the stadium’s most famous resident. “I asked Pat if I needed to wear seven studded cleats. He said no. He said it’s in perfect shape. So, no…I think just play a game and play ball.”

One day closer to the real thing 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HkyWtAZ0T6

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) August 23, 2025Raiola will also take the field as a sophomore captain, one of the youngest in program history. “It’s a tremendous, tremendous honor to be able to represent this football team and represent honestly not even the guys here right now, but everyone that came before us,” he said. “To be able to, you know, wear a C on my jersey…it’s a lot more than just the patch. It’s the blood, sweat, and tears that I had with these guys.”

He and a few teammates pushed for season-long captains, something head coach Matt Rhule has not traditionally allowed. “We mentioned it to him. We brought it up to him,” Raiola said. “But…we weren’t begging them to have it cuz you know we have a very selfless football team…it kind of just goes to show that coach Rhule is not just stuck in his own ways, but he’s a player’s coach.”

Raiola also credited the familiarity he has with offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen heading into year two. “Yeah, it’s just a comfort level,” he said. “I also think being in my second year here just…knowing what to expect at a game. The flows of good, the flows of bad…kind of keeping everything in the middle. So, you know, I think everyone’s comfortable. We’ve put a lot of reps in and we’ve done a lot of work and now it’s time to go out there and show people what we’ve been preparing for.”

Now, with the countdown to kickoff on the locker room wall getting closer, Raiola said the team is ready. “I remember when it said 50 days and now it says [two],” he said. “We’ve had time to prepare…so it’s nothing different…when the time that ball is kicked off, we’ll be ready to go.”

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS: 

Sportsbook takes unexpected dig at Deion Sanders’ son after NFL cutESPN says goodbye to Lee Corso with tear-jerking tributeBig news as Bill Belichick, UNC join Hulu for bold football docuseriesESPN host raises questions about Arch Manning’s pressure at Texas