LINCOLN — An NFL icon and legendary superhero aren’t dueling Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. It only feels like it.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola and Michigan’s Bryce Underwood don’t know each other. Not really. Each was his own recruiting monolith, a quarterback who could name his college destination. Both are walking individual brands commanding seven figures in the emerging era of revenue sharing and name-image-likeness financial payments.
The five-stars align this weekend for a perfect-10 QB spectacle.
In an alternate universe the two would have matched up eventually in the SEC. Raiola (the composite No. 7 overall prospect in 2024) was pledged to Georgia until a late flip to Nebraska before early signing day. Underwood (No. 1 in 2025) was bound for LSU until a similar late change of heart a year later.
Each has instead become the face of his respective Big Ten blueblood. Comparisons to Patrick Mahomes have quieted this season for Raiola, who nonetheless has been nearly flawless operating as the de facto point guard for a steady-eddy offense. Underwood broke out against Central Michigan flashing a canon arm and cheetah-like speed in tandem for the first time in his third college game.
“He might actually be Batman,” Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi said. “We need to do a DNA test on him.”
Hail Marys are more common than encounters between former five-star quarterbacks. There have been 18,142 FBS games played since the start of the 2014 season. Twenty of those – one in every 907 contests or so – feature top-rated QBs starting against each other.
Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. tilt between Nebraska (3-0) and No. 21 Michigan (2-1) marks the fifth such game in that span between Big Ten gunslingers. The last three came in 2023 between Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Ohio State’s Kyle McCord and Penn State’s Drew Allar.
The five-star quarterback club includes 89 total college players since the 247 Sports composite began at the turn of the century.
Give the experience edge to Raiola, the son of an NFL center who has QBs like Matthew Stafford and Patrick Mahomes a text message away. Raiola last year did what Underwood is doing now, starting as a freshman teenager while learning the Big Ten and how to lead older teammates.
“You kinda gotta figure it out on the go,” Raiola said. “There’s no substitute for live game reps in a Big Ten game. Especially on the road.”
But as bright as Raiola’s shine is – a leading NFL quarterback prospect despite not being eligible until the 2027 draft – Underwood’s is blinding. His most recent showing featured a 14-carry, two-touchdown performance while throwing for 235 and another score.
It brought alive the hype that has followed him since earning national player-of-the-year honors as a prep freshman in Belleville, less than 20 miles outside Ann Arbor. It’s why Michigan’s dogged recruitment of Underwood involved names like billionaire Larry Ellison, Tom Brady and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
“I’ve never seen an arm like this attached to a body like that in one human being playing quarterback for Michigan,” said Rich Eisen, a longtime NFL Network host and Michigan grad. “Ever.”
Former Florida star quarterback Tim Tebow – appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show” this week – recalled laying eyes on Underwood at a summer event. Holy cow, the Heisman Trophy winner thought.
“When God made him, He just made him bigger, stronger, faster,” Tebow said. “He’s just gifted. It’s just different.”
FOX analyst and former championship coach Urban Meyer said Underwood taking off on designed runs against Central Michigan puts opponents on notice. The freshman in the second quarter took a snap and burst left with a running back serving as a lead blocker for a 20-yard touchdown.
“This is when the game changed,” Meyer said during a BTN segment. “And you know who it changed for? All defensive coordinators in the Big Ten but especially Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler because he’s going to have to deal with this.”
Meyer said Underwood’s legs mean between 60-70% of a team’s defensive plays are “redlined” because someone must account for the quarterback.
Underwood himself said last weekend he finally realized how effective he could be as a runner. In a weekday interview with On3 – sponsored by an energy-drink brand – the quarterback said an afternoon in Nebraska will provide another stage. The only restriction Michigan has on him is no back-flip celebrations.
Even that might still happen, Underwood grinned.
“I’m having way more fun than I expected to have, honestly,” Underwood said.
The Huskers – allowing the fewest passing yards per game in the country (66) – will get their chance to curb the enthusiasm.
“He’s a good player, very mobile, has a very strong arm,” senior safety Marques Buford said. “But it’s just all about us. I feel like if we play to our standard, our keys are right and everybody just flies around, it should be a good day for us.”
Meanwhile, Raiola has evolved from career game No. 4 – that was the overtime home loss to Illinois last year – into a veteran making his 17th start. He’s completing better than 76% of his passes (72 for 94) with eight touchdown passes and no giveaways. Nebraska coaches trust him to adjust plays and protections himself. He’s slimmed down from a season ago with a better feel for the occasional scramble.
Coach Matt Rhule said if Raiola isn’t in class during the week, he’s preparing. Raiola texted his coach a picture of his marked-up whiteboard Saturday night after the Houston Christian win.
The QB and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will match wits with Michigan defensive play-caller Wink Martindale, the longtime NFL assistant whose pre-snap looks are rarely what they seem.
“I betcha he’s up there right now just chasing,” Rhule said of Raiola. “Chasing edges.”
It’s an early legacy game for both quarterbacks who won’t meet again in college in the regular season if they stick with their schools. Both are on track to face other fellow five-stars in the months ahead – Raiola against UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava and Penn State’s Drew Allar, Underwood against Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.
Raiola, who lived in Detroit early in his life while his dad and former Husker Dominic Raiola played for the NFL’s Lions, declined to say whether he grew up following Michigan football. He and the Wolverines will share a field for the first time Saturday.
“I do know he’s a really great quarterback and I look forward to going against him,” Raiola said. “Our defense will be ready for the challenge.”
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Evan Bland
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today