It’s been a running joke for almost a year now that Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola looks suspiciously similar to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It’s a fact that has been brought up by fans and analysts alike almost since the team started to recruit the player. Raiola has also leaned on the idea as a way to raise his NIL profile.
Some have criticized him for even modelling his playing style after the Super Bowl champion, but this isn’t something that worries him. Raiola is a genuine fan of Mahomes, and speaking ahead of his 2025 season start, he set the record clear on the matter:
“So I’m just gonna start with that. It ain’t cap, it’s real love,” Raiola said on CBS Sports ‘Confidential Conversations’. “Everybody is like ‘oh you want to be like him’ and all this stuff. It just so happened that he played baseball and I played baseball. He plays quarterback and I play quarterback AND we look alike…I can’t get mad at God for making me look like him.”
“I’m sure you all grew up watching dudes you loved watching play. I’m still a fan of the game. I’m in college but I’m gonna be a fan of the game always. All that hating stuff can go. I’m good on that. We’re cool. I can reach out. Call and text him whenever.”
In what seems like a well-thought-out marketing ploy, the Cornhuskers will start their 2025 season at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City against Cincinnati on Thursday night. Apparently, Patrick Mahomes is keeping tabs on his doppelganger, with Raiola stating that the NFL star told him he will be supporting Nebraska during the encounter.
How to watch Nebraska vs. Cincinnati on Thursday?
The Nebraska Cornhuskers open up their 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET. The game will be played in the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. ESPN will carry the game, and fans will be able to stream it through ESPN+ Unlimited, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and YouTube TV.
The Cornhuskers are 6.5-point favorites according to ESPN Bet, while the ESPN predictor is giving them a 66.2% of winning the game. Last year, Nebraska finished 7-6 and won the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
