Much has been said about the similarities between Patrick Mahomes and Dylan Raiola. The Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback had always dismissed comparisons to the Kansas City Chiefs superstar-but he recently admitted the resemblance is no coincidence.
The Huskers are off to a 3-0 start to the 2025-26 college football season, and Raiola has been at the center of the attention. The young signal-caller has impressed, leading his team to commanding wins over Cincinnati, Akron, and HCU.
With Nebraska now preparing for its first major test of the season against the Michigan Wolverines, Raiola broke down Mahomes’ game in detail. In doing so, he acknowledged why his own style looks so similar to the three-time Super Bowl champion’s.
Raiola reveals how he resembles Mahomes
In an interview with CBS Sports, Raiola praised Mahomes’ unique skill set: “[Mahomes is] a pure passer. He wants to stay in the pocket, but when he gets out, that’s when he’s dangerous.”
Raiola pointed to their shared background as a key reason for the similarities. “You know, with the similar backgrounds of playing baseball-both of us-those things kind of just pop up on the fly,” he said, referencing Mahomes’ days as a relief pitcher at Texas Tech.
Still, Raiola insisted he isn’t trying to imitate the Chiefs star. “I couldn’t tell you why I threw it like that, why I did or didn’t throw it the way I did,” he explained. “It’s just kind of a reactionary thing that happens through visualizing and seeing things before they happen.”
Raiola’s upcoming challenges
The matchup against No. 21 Michigan marks the beginning of a daunting stretch for Nebraska. After hosting the Wolverines, the Huskers will face Michigan State at home, travel to Maryland and Minnesota, then return to Lincoln to take on Northern Kentucky and No. 25 USC.
As the schedule toughens, Raiola will have the chance to prove he’s more than just a “Patrick Mahomes clone.” If he can carry Nebraska into the playoffs, he may begin carving out his own legacy in college football.
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