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QB Grade: Nebraska Football's Dylan Raiola vs. Purdue

After a miserable first half, the Huskers' quarterback rebounded nicely to finish out the game.

Tanner Johnson

Sep 28, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws a pass under pressure from Purdue Boilermakers defensive lineman Jeffrey M'Ba (0) during the second quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Sep 28, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws a pass under pressure from Purdue Boilermakers defensive lineman Jeffrey M'Ba (0) during the second quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
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Nebraska and Purdue played an ugly first half of football on Saturday. There were no points scored until the Boilermakers hit a field goal with 6:42 to play in the third quarter.

Huskers' freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola had a final stat line of 17-for-27 passing for 257 yards and one touchdown. However, Raiola did put the offense in position to kick three field goals in the first half, but all three missed, including two that were blocked.

After the Boilermakers got on the board first with a field goal, Raiola responded by leading a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that ended with a beautiful touchdown pass to Jahmal Banks.

That was what the offense needed to be able to wake up. The Huskers scored again on their next drive on 4th & Goal from the one-yard line, after another long drive gassed the Boilermaker defense. It was a great way to start the fourth quarter and was a killing blow to Purdue's ability to win the game with the way their offense was struggling.

Raiola then led a third straight touchdown drive before a Blackshirts pick-six ended any chance the Boilermakers had in what was a fourth-quarter onslaught.

While Raiola and the offense struggled to put points on the board for much of the game, they still managed to limit turnovers and avoid drastic mistakes. That is a good sign for a freshman quarterback playing on the road for the first time. He was far from perfect but showed maturity and poise when he easily could have become frustrated and panicky. The good news for the Huskers is that he will only become more experienced and likely play better on the road in the future.

Grade: B

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Tanner Johnson
TANNER JOHNSON

Tanner Johnson is a sports writer and journalist who has experience covering multiple sports, collegiate and professional. He reports on a national level using his knowledge of teams from all over the country. He has provided coverage for the Tennessee Titans, Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Florida State Seminoles. He is also a co-host of Triple Option A College Football Podcast. On this podcast, he provides a national coverage of college football and engages with fans and members of the media.

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