Big Ten Daily (Dec. 19): Nebraska Flips 5-Star QB Dylan Raiola From Georgia

Christmas arrived early in Lincoln this year. The Huskers received some major news Monday on the recruiting front, with five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola flipping his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska.

No, those aren't snow flurries occupying the airspace above Memorial Stadium, it's a confetti shower to celebrate the biggest commitment in recent memory.

Raiola ranks as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, per 247Sports Composite Rankings. He's listed as the second-best quarterback for the cycle. Not to overstate the obvious, but it's a huge flip for coach Matt Rhule and his staff.

Raiola is a legacy pick-up for the Huskers. His father, Dominic, was an All-American offensive lineman, playing at Nebraska from 1998-2000. His uncle, Donovan, is the current offensive line coach in Lincoln.

Those ties played a role in the quarterback's decision to flip his commitment.

"I firmly believe that Nebraska is in my blood," Raiola told ESPN's Pete Thamel. "It's a great opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself. Nebraska is a special place."

Quarterback play was an issue for the Huskers in 2023. Injuries and turnover issues forced Nebraska to rotate between Jeff Sims, Heinrich Haarberg and Chubba Purdy. That trio ended the season with 1,631 passing yards, a 52.1% completion rate, 10 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

To put it kindly: not ideal.

The hope, then, is that the addition of a prominent passer like Raiola pushes Nebraska's offense in the right direction. At the very least, it should allow the Huskers to scrap the one-dimensional approach and implement a more balanced attack.

Will Nebraska find immediate success with Raiola? Perhaps. But the five-star's pledge isn't just about the 2024 season. It's about the long-term goals of a program trying to reclaim its identity as one of college football's powerhouses.

Raiola hopes to be part of that rebuild.

"I think it'll mean a lot to bring it back," Raiola said of Nebraska's historical prominence. "Just because of the legacy of so many great players that have walked through that locker room that's been established there — to keep doing what they established.

"Just the history of the Nebraska football program. It's not just another program."

Kirk Ferentz Shade at USC

We've reached a point where Kirk Ferentz just doesn't give a damn anymore. To be honest, I kind of love it. The Iowa coach had no issue throwing some shade at USC recently, when asked about his team's offensive outlook moving forward.

It's no secret that the Hawkeyes have been ... poor ... offensively. With the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl marking the end of Brian Ferentz's time as the team's offensive coordinator, the program is searching for his replacement.

When asked about the direction of the offense, Ferentz talked, at length, about how certain offensive statistics don't matter. Then, he took a subtle shot at coach Lincoln Riley and USC.

"There's a school on the West Coast right now that's gonna re-commit to defense," Ferentz said. "You know, gave up (46) to Tulane last year in a bowl game. So, you know, at a place where like, Ronnie Lott played. So, I just find it — now they're gonna think about defense. To me, that was the first thing we thought about 25 years ago. That ain't gonna change."

To Ferentz's point, USC returned reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, had a prolific offense and finished the 2023 campaign with a 7-5 record.

It happens when you surrender 34.9 points per game.

Without question, Ferentz needs to find an offensive coordinator capable of putting the Hawkeyes in a better situation. It's kind of scary to think about Iowa's potential with just an average offense this year.

But if these questions continue to give us "Spicy Kirk," then keep 'em coming.

J.J. McCarthy Talks Rose Bowl Prep

Michigan is taking a slightly different approach to this year's College Football Playoff appearance. J.J. McCarthy is a fan of it.

The Wolverines are 0-2 in the previous two appearances in the semifinals and will have their hands full this year, taking on SEC champion Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

What's different about this year's approach? Coach Jim Harbaugh is putting more emphasis on rest. He wants his team to be fresh and ready for the New Year's Day showdown.

"Coach Harbaugh had a little different schedule than previous years. Boy, for me personally, just feel fresh mentally, physically and spiritually. So it's been really good so far," McCarthy said of the Rose Bowl preparations, per 247Sports. "We did have a week off last two years, but we haven't been in full pads as much. So it's been a little bit of a toll off our bodies."

With a talented and experienced team like Michigan has, the rest and recovery probably helps more than constantly working on the practice field.

Will the change finally result in a College Football Playoff win?

Kirk Ferentz Shade at USC

J.J. McCarthy Talks Rose Bowl Prep

Related Big Ten Stories