Raiola Earns Preseason Recognition

Nebraska sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola had earned another preseason honor, as he was named to the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List.

The award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field.  Raiola was among 81 players from 40 FBS programs on the list released Thursday afternoon.   This is the second preseason watch list for Raiola, who was named to the Maxwell Award watch list last month.

Raiola returns after putting together a record-setting freshman campaign, as he guided the Huskers to their first bowl appearance since 2016. Raiola was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, setting school freshman marks in passing yards (2,819) and completion percentage (67.1). He led all freshmen nationally in completion percentage and was third in yards.

On the season, he completed 275-of-410 passes for 13 touchdowns. He posted career highs in both yards (297) and passing touchdowns (three) against Illinois. Raiola capped his freshman year by becoming the first true freshman to lead Nebraska to a bowl victory, as he completed 22-of-30 passes for 224 yards and a TD in the 20-15 Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College.

Finalists for the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on
December 9 and the winner will be announced on December 16th.