This quarterback's name is Dylan Raiola, and on Saturday, he leads his Nebraska football team (3–1, 0–1) against the Michigan State Spartans (3–1, 0–1), who aim to flatten the prodigy—or at the very least, defeat him.

“I think (Raiola) can beat you,” defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa said. “So, we have to do a great job playing attack coverage in the secondary, and at the same time for (the defensive line), we have to win one-on-ones, and that’s the emphasis this week. Either in a pass rush or run block or a defensive back on a receiver or a linebacker on an underneath route.”

Playing aggressive coverage and winning one-on-ones will contribute to success against Raiola and his Cornhusker squad. It would contribute to success against anybody—any team, any time. Yet, this season, the Spartans have struggled in the very areas Suiaunoa emphasizes—one reason why MSU is ranked 91st in the nation defensively.

These struggling methods of defense were highlighted in the pacific time zone when MSU took on Southern California on Sept. 20. In a game of missed tackles, busted coverage, miscommunications and the loss of many one-on-ones, the Spartan defense let up 45 points along with 523 total yards. 

It was an eye-opening game that proved progress must be made defensively. 

“Credit to USC, they're a really good offense, they’re gonna score points on everyone they play this year,” sixth-year linebacker Sam Edwards said. “You hate to learn the hard way, but it's a good reminder that the margins are so small. It's death by inches; it's death by details. So that's really what we honed in on this bye week and going into Nebraska is just tightening up those small details.”

If playing attack coverage and winning one-on-ones is truly emphasized – and if the bye week fixed the leaks and tweaked the small details in the Spartans defense – then good things are bound to happen for the green and white against a great offense that can do damage. But if things go how they did against USC, then Spartan fans should prepare to buckle up for a long tractor ride in the cornfields. 

This season, Nebraska’s offense has raked up consistent numbers, proving to be a liable threat in Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers average 496.5 yards per game (13th in FBS) with most of these yards coming through the air, averaging 351.8 passing yards per game (second in FBS). Nebraska also averages 43.5 points per game (12th in FBS). 

The leader of this offense, and the player that makes everything chug smoothly, is Raiola and his canon for an arm. The big 6-foot-3 220-pound sophomore is experiencing a stellar season throwing the football, going 102-for-135 with 1137 yards and 11 touchdowns to one interception. He can strike the ball down field, does so confidently with progressed decision making, and can stand in the pocket and absorb a hit. He’s everything MSU couldn’t stop against USC. 

“[Raiola] is a good player,” Edwards said. “He gets rid of the ball quickly when he needs to, he’s able to pull the ball down and be elusive, so he’s able to create a lot. Another good offensive opponent coming up, and we're looking forward to the challenge in Lincoln this Saturday.”

Raiola isn’t unstoppable. While his raw talent is something football goers boggle at, he has his flaws. Last season, these flaws were exposed.

After starting the first five games 100-for-142 for 1,224 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions, something changed. Raiola began making poor decisions and misreads, consistently taking sacks and showing a lack of resilience when his mistakes hurt both himself and his team. Despite a strong start to his freshman season, he finished the final eight games 175-for-268 for 1,595 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

But this year, Raiola looks better, more talented with optimal confidence and improved decision making. To revert Raiola back to his 2024 second half self, the Spartans must play complementary defense. MSU must tackle, generate pressure, communicate and cover. It must play attack coverage and win one-on-ones like Suiaunoa emphasizes, just as it must have success in the small details like Edwards preaches. 

If the Spartans can do this, fix whatever was broken before the bye week, then Raiola and his Nebraska football team have a different opponent coming at them than the opponent they saw on tape.

In the sea of red where the sold-out Cornhusker crowd promises stimulating energy, the Spartans aim to take down Nebraska on Oct. 4 in Memorial Stadium at 4 p.m. The game will be aired on FS1.