Since the Michigan football team doesn't play Fresno State until 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Wolverine fans may find themselves jumping between other Big Ten games during Week 1 to pass the time until kickoff.
And if they tune in to the Nebraska-UTEP game at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Michigan fans – and the Detroit Lions – might hear a familiar name coming from their television speakers.
Saturday's game will be the first collegiate start for Cornhuskers freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Does his last name sound familiar?
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Here's whether the Nebraska quarterback is related to Dominic Raiola, a look back at his NFL career, and more:
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Is Dylan Raiola related to Dominic Raiola?
Yes; as noted in his Nebraska player bio, Dylan Raiola is related to Dominic Raiola. He is the second oldest child and eldest son of Dominic Raiola, who played for Nebraska and helped the Cornhuskers win national titles in 1997 and 2000 before embarking on a career with the Lions in the NFL.
Is Dylan Raiola related to Donovan Raiola?
Yes; as ESPN notes, Dylan Raiola is related to Donovan Raiola. He is the nephew of Donovan Raiola, who is entering his third season as Nebraska's offensive line coach. Before joining the Cornhuskers' coaching staff in 2022 when Scott Frost was then head coach at Nebraska, Donovan Raiola spent four seasons in the NFL as an assistant offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears.
Who did Dominic Raiola play for in the NFL?
Dominic Raiola played all 11 NFL seasons with the Lions. He was selected by the Lions in the second round (50th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.
During his time in Detroit, Raiola was an iron man for the Lions, starting every single game he appeared in from 2002 to 2014. He helped the Lions to two playoff appearances in 11 seasons, both of which ended in a loss in the wildcard round of the 2011 and 2014 NFL playoffs.
Dylan Raiola moves from Georgia to Nebraska
The five-star recruit hadn't committed to Nebraska from the start – perhaps a true glimpse into the ever-changing landscape of college sports, where NIL packages and start-time opportunities are changing recruiting.
He was traded to the Cornhuskers on December 18th of last year, moving from his hometown team, SEC heavyweight Georgia, to the Cornhuskers. When asked why Dylan Raiola moved from the Bulldogs to the Cornhuskers, he told ESPN's Pete Thamel that Big Red is in his blood.
“I truly believe Nebraska is in my blood,” Dylan Raiola told ESPN. “It's a great opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself. Nebraska is a special place.”
He added, “I think because my father was there, I understand the history of the program. I also understand my family's legacy there and the fan base and aspirations. I firmly believe in the vision and culture that Coach Rhule has built with his team.”
According to ESPN, he is Nebraska's top-ranked high school recruit since ESPN began tracking the rankings in 2006.
The transfer from Georgia to Nebraska marked the first time Dylan Raiola reopened his recruitment. In December 2022, Dylan Raiola withdrew his commitment from Ohio State, only to commit to Georgia in May 2023. He withdrew his commitment to Georgia shortly after Carson Beck announced he would return for his fifth season and second as the Bulldogs' starting quarterback.
Dylan Raiola 247Sports Rankings
- 247Sports rankings: Five-star recruit | No. 7 nationally ranked prospect | No. 2 nationally ranked quarterback
Dylan Raiola was listed as a five-star recruit and the No. 7 national prospect for the 2023 recruiting class according to his 247Sports Composite rankings. He was also the second-best quarterback in his recruiting class, behind rookie quarterback DJ Lagway of Florida.
