Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola’s performance shined in the loss to Illinois. It was a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of optimism that things don’t have to be the same old, same old.

Raiola did well in his first three games, like so many pop quizzes. But the Big Ten opener, against a Big Ten defense and coach, would be a telling test for the young quarterback.

And then Illini coach Bret Bielema threw a curveball. Bielema unabashedly stepped up to stop NU’s run game and put everything on Raiola’s arm.

It was a psychological chess move, with the coach saying he was aware of Raiola’s talent but would still let him prove it. Could he handle the pressure?

Oh yes. It was a performance that left me wondering: Could the freshman single-handedly turn this season around?

Raiola was 24 of 35 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception – an incredible game on a 50-50 ball. He didn’t flinch. He made play after play, sometimes fitting passes where only his receiver could get them.

The only thing he didn’t do was win, and he came in one shot ready to do that.

Yes, Illinois played zone the entire game before switching to man in overtime and going after Raiola. Yet it was a sensational performance, full of poise and enthusiasm.

And for Husker fans who saw the long game, a painful loss was taken away.

Raiola has just emerged from trouble, on the eve of a career whose potential appeals to the imagination. How high can he fly? What could he do later this season?

Especially in the huddle and during training.

That’s the part that intrigued me.

Now Raiola can’t tackle or defend. He can’t kick. He can’t block. And there’s a list of things he’s still learning as a college quarterback.

But I wonder if a freshman can lead the Huskers out of the desert. Can he break open the mental door that’s blocking the next level?

It’s still there. NU coach Matt Rhule saw it against Illinois. The team that played so loose, aggressive and purposeful, especially against Colorado, reacted differently when the Illini poked them in the mouth first.

They started to think. They stopped playing. They started to feel: the pressure and the moment.

It wasn’t the only reason for the loss, but Rhule cited it as a major factor.

“I have to find a way to get our team to the point where when the game gets tight, it doesn’t get tight,” Rhule said. “Enjoy the battle and enjoy the competition.”

Sometimes a coach can’t do that.

Sometimes it is a player who makes that happen.

It’s rare. But I saw it. So do some of you.

Comparisons are not fair for young players. They find their own way. Dylan Raiola is the first Dylan Raiola.

And this current situation is unique to the past sixty years of Nebraska football.

I’ve seen a handful of players who changed Nebraska football. The way the team played. The way it thought about itself.

The one that comes to mind is a well-recruited quarterback who arrived in 1992, at a time when Nebraska couldn’t win a bowl game and was foggy in big games.

Tommie Frazier changed that, with his play in big games and also his fearless, confident, no-nonsense approach.

Here in 2024, we are still a long way from that time. In my opinion, Frazier is the greatest quarterback from Nebraska. He was the key that opened the door for so many great teams.

Raiola, the most touted NU quarterback since Frazier, has a very different task. What is similar is that there is a door that needs to be broken down.

I see some swashbuckler in Raiola. He is confident, fearless and aggressive. He is not afraid to make a mistake because he thinks he will find a way to win the game.

That’s the kind of mentality the Huskers appear to need to get past this hurdle that resurfaced last week. Don’t forget that Raiola hasn’t been here in recent years. He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, and that’s a good thing.

Can a freshman influence a team in this way? Yes. But he must first earn the team’s respect. NU’s older players speak highly of their quarterback. His play on the field must have caught their attention so far.

In Rhule’s press conference messages – which are often used to speak to the team – he has said that the team must reach Raiola’s level of intensity and passion.

He seems to promote the idea of ​​Raiola as leader. And did it again earlier this week.

“It just felt really tight in the second half,” Rhule said of the Illinois game. “Dylan doesn’t feel tight. He’s out there saying, ‘Let’s go play.’ “

This will be something worth following. The quarterback. And the story.

Big Ten coaches won’t follow Illinois’ lead: I don’t expect other Big Ten coaches to follow Bielema’s lead in loading up to stop NU’s run game to see what Raiola can do. That would be crazy. I expect there will be more room for NU to make a run this week and they have the Big Ten back – Dante “Downhill” Dowdell – to do it.

Purdue will come out swinging: Expect Purdue to come out swinging after two big losses, but the 11 a.m. kick won’t hurt Nebraska. How many fans will show up? Better question: What about some NU tackle and special teams?

Checking in with the SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama feels big on several levels. The Dawgs look vulnerable, Bama’s new coach wants to make an impression and a Georgia loss symbolically throws the SEC wide open, with Texas and Tennessee poised to take over. Great stuff.

Tom’s choice: Nebraska 27, Purdue 21.