When ESPN’s Pat McAfee makes a bold call, fans take notice—and his latest prediction has Nebraska buzzing. After a backstage run-in with Huskers QB Dylan Raiola and head coach Matt Rhule, McAfee declared Raiola a future breakout star for 2025. From Raiola’s poise to arm talent, McAfee believes the young quarterback is ready to put Nebraska football back on the national map.
Pat McAfee Just Made a Big Prediction About Dylan Raiola’s 2025 Season
When McAfee talks about college football, people listen. And Nebraska fans? Well, they’re all ears after the ESPN analyst and “The Pat McAfee Show” host dropped a bomb about Huskers quarterback Raiola. Following a chance meeting with Raiola and head coach Rhule at a WWE Monday Night Raw event in Omaha, McAfee couldn’t contain his excitement about what he sees coming for the young QB. Spoiler alert: He thinks kids are about to blow up in 2025!
So what exactly got McAfee so fired up? After hanging out backstage with Raiola, Rhule, and running back Emmett Johnson, McAfee came away seriously impressed with the quarterback’s presence.
“That Dylan kid was, it was great. Like, he was, I enjoyed the way he was operating,” McAfee gushed on his show. “Like, I enjoyed, he just has like a star kind of vibe about him. I think Dylan Raiola is going to be a star next year.”
It wasn’t just Raiola’s personality that won over McAfee. He specifically highlighted the quarterback’s background and work ethic: “He’s a son of a coach, okay, so he, you know, works his ass off.” Anyone who knows football knows that coaches’ kids often bring something special to the field—they’ve been breathing the game since day one!
McAfee didn’t stop there. He was dazzled by a highlight-reel throw Raiola made last season: “That dime drop down the sideline—with somebody on his arm… I love this dude.” When McAfee loves your game, that’s when you know you’re doing something right!
Nebraska’s Rising Star Could Lead Huskers “All the Way Back”
McAfee’s prediction is more interesting because it fits into the bigger Nebraska story. The Huskers finally show signs of life after years in the football wilderness. They finished 7-6 last season with a Pinstripe Bowl win, and Raiola was a big part of that turnaround as a true freshman.
The numbers? Not too shabby! Raiola completed 67.1% of his passes for 2,819 yards, tossing 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He even snagged Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors along the way. Not bad for a first-year starter!
McAfee’s enthusiasm extends beyond just Raiola to the entire Nebraska program under Rhule, whom he called a “college football icon.” As McAfee put it, “The boys are beloved. They got hot in the second half of the season…It feels like they’re all the way back.” He also added, “Their fans are incredible. Adding them back into the limelight is a beautiful thing for college football.”
The timing couldn’t be better for Nebraska, either. They’re opening next season against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium, and with recruiting momentum—including possibly landing top wideout Cortez Mills—Raiola should have even more weapons at his disposal.
KEEP READING: Where Does Dylan Raiola Stand in NIL Rankings? Analyzing His Star Power and Latest Deals
McAfee perfectly summed up his Nebraska encounter: “I’m high on the Nebraska Cornhuskers after getting a chance to meet these boys and chit chat with them one-on-one post-Monday Night RAW in the back…I did think about the conversation we were having while sitting in traffic in Omaha for a good bit there after the program, and I would like to let the Nebraska Cornhusker boys know – I said, worth it. It was cool to meet them.”
For Husker Nation, McAfee’s prediction is music to their ears. Could 2025 be the year Nebraska officially announces it’s back? If McAfee’s instincts are right about Raiola, don’t bet against it!
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