Dylan Raiola, Nebraska Beat BC in Pinstripe Bowl as CFB Fans Eye QB's Sophomore Leap

The Nebraska Cornhuskers concluded their 2024 season in impressive fashion Saturday, beating the Boston College Eagles 20-15 in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York.

Playing in their first bowl game since 2016, the Huskers secured their first winning record since that same season and won a bowl game for the first time since 2015.

In Matt Rhule's second season as head coach, Nebraska finished 7-6, providing fans with plenty of reason for optimism in 2025 and beyond.

The biggest factor in Nebraska's progression will likely be quarterback Dylan Raiola, who finished with 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 22-of-30 passing in Saturday's victory.

Raiola had plenty of ups and downs during his true freshman season, but 247Sports' No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class made history Saturday, surpassing Adrian Martinez for the most passing yards in a season by a freshman in Nebraska football history:

In addition to surpassing the previous record of 2,617 yards, Raiola threw 13 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions on the year.

Although Raiola clearly has to make some improvements in his game to reach the next level, plenty of fans expressed their belief Saturday on social media that Raiola has the chance to be a special player in the future:

Raiola showed some maturity and veteran leadership in Saturday's contest, which could bode well for next season.

On the opening drive of the game, he was intercepted by Boston College defensive back KP Price, ending a promising foray down the field:

While it would have been easy to let things snowball, Raiola led touchdown drives on two of Nebraska's next three possessions, plus he threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Emmett Johnson in the third quarter to extend the lead to 20-2.

Although much of the focus during the Pinstripe Bowl was on Raiola, the Cornhuskers proved to be a complete team under Rhule.

Defense was perhaps the biggest factor in Nebraska's victory, as the Eagles turned the ball over once and turned the ball over on downs four times.

Even in defeat, Boston College finished the 2024 campaign 7-6, giving it a second consecutive winning season, and its first under head coach Bill O'Brien.

As for Nebraska, the hope and expectation among fans will be that the Huskers will find a way to parlay the Pinstripe Bowl win into being a legitimate factor in the Big Ten in 2025.