Four Questions for Nebraska Football Heading Into Spring Ball

Author

TJ Birkel
March 23, 2025

Spring football is upon us, Common Fans! Practice begins this coming week and will last until April 26. And while nothing can replace the actual football season in the fall, it always feels like an accomplishment to get to this point in the year. We’ve made it through the doldrums of January and February. The team is transitioning from winter conditioning to playing and practicing real, actual football. We’ll get some glimpses of some exciting newcomers, and see what kind of progress the veterans have made. 

2025 is a huge year for Husker Head Coach Matt Rhule. This season has the potential to define his entire tenure at Nebraska–for good or bad. With that in mind, here are four questions to ponder as Nebraska heads into spring practice. 

How much improvement will we see from Dylan Raiola in year 2? 

Raiola had a solid true freshman season. He threw for 2,819 yards, completing more than 67% of his passes. He threw 13 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions. At times, he made some major “wow” plays, showcasing the talent that made him a highly coveted 5 star recruit. Other times, he made some freshman mistakes: things like holding the ball too long, missing open receivers at key moments, and sliding short of the first down marker. That type of thing is to be expected from a true freshman. I believe the upside for Raiola remains sky high. How much improvement can we expect to see in 2025? Having a full offseason…