<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Ccdsz_0w0EIFOX00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Ccdsz_0w0EIFOX00" width="611" height="320" >Six games in and <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/matt-rhule-1095/">Matt Rhule</a> is plenty pleased with his true freshman quarterback.While Saturday proved to be Dylan Raiola's most challenging day as a Husker quarterback so far, the first-year college QB meets the bye week with a 5-1 starting record, a 66.9 completion percentage and a 9-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio."I think he's been great. He's had some wow moments. He gets us in the right checks," the Husker head coach said Monday. "I think he protects the football. We had the one interception on the RPO this week. That's a well-coached defense; they're physical. The wind was hard early in the game and so I think there were some lessons. We knew in the game that the best way to win that game was for us to get up and make them play differently. Make them play a way they didn't want to play."With that, Rhule highlighted those two touchdown drives Raiola and the Huskers put on the board to lead 14-0.The coach didn't think the field position in the third quarter did <a href="https://247sports.com/college/nebraska/">Nebraska</a> any favors, as the Huskers fought to a 14-7 win over the previously undefeated Scarlet Knights."Three of the drives in the second half, we started inside the five – it was hard to get into the rhythm," Rhule said. "That's not an excuse. We have to get into a rhythm that way. Make no mistake. But I thought that was part of it."Of Nebraska's five drives before the victory formation series, two started at NU's own 2 and another in the fourth quarter at the 3. Nebraska did have three 3-and-outs on those five possessions.The Huskers had 206 yards at halftime but finished with 261 at 3.7 yards per play in the win. Raiola was 13-of-27 for 134 yards and one interception."Hats off to their defense. They played a heckuva game. They had a great plan against us. Those games happen, I hate to say it. I thought it was a really good defense coming into this game," Raiola said. "Our defense stepped up big-time when we needed them. I couldn't be more grateful for them. Even our punter (Brian) Buschini is just a true representation of our program ... We won the game, that's all that matters."Raiola gave Buschini a 10-of-10 for his fake punt pass against <a href="https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/">Rutgers</a>, which produced 30 of those second-half yards.How much did the wind impact matters?It didn't impact things from a game plan standpoint, Raiola said. "It was more kind of figuring out where it was. It kind of changed throughout the game. But that's part of football. You have to play in different conditions."Conditions and field position noted, Raiola thought the execution just wasn't quite right in the second half to move it like the Huskers hoped."I'll take that one. I missed some throws that could've kept us on the field," Raiola said. "It's all part of learning. Just like I said, if we didn't have that defense we might be in a different point of view. But we'll get it cleaned up and make sure it doesn't happen again."Raiola thought it was "huge" to have this bye week and be able to reflect on what the Huskers have gotten done and also how defenses are trying to attack them."Naturally, you want to settle and kind of just coast right now but we really got to step on it and keep going," Raiola said in the postgame leading into the bye. "I know our team will respond and we'll use the bye week to our advantage. ... It's nice to get a win going into the bye week. You'd hate to have an L."The Huskers were keeping with a familiar practice routine through Thursday, with plans to take Friday through Sunday off before game week leading to the game at Indiana.Heading into the second half of the season, Raiola is averaging 8.0 yards per pass attempt. That ranks 50th among FBS QBs. It's a steep rise from Nebraska's 6.2 average in per pass attempt in 2023.Even as a freshman Raiola has done well at building trust and being a leader on that offense. That's no small feat six games into this."I think Dylan's the guy that the guys on offense look to," Rhule said. "We can continue to help him with improved run game, guys getting open. And I think he'll get better and better and better every week."The young QB seems to embrace these hard-fought Big Ten games too, which is a needed outlook since the rest of the season is loaded up with games every week to test a player's mettle for four quarters."I love the games that come down to the wire," he said. "It's a fun situation. You practice and train all offseason for it. The Big Ten is a physical conference and I think we can compete with anybody. It's all about learning right now ... but proud of our team, proud of where we're at, and keep pushing."</div></body>

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Keeping foot on pedal within Raiola's bye week plans

Six games in and Matt Rhule is plenty pleased with his true freshman quarterback. While Saturday proved to be Dylan Raiola's most challenging day as a Husker quarterback so far, the first-year college QB meets the bye week with a 5-1 starting record, a 66.9 completion percentage and a 9-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio.

Keeping foot on pedal within Raiola's bye week plans

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