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HIRO Report: Nebraska Quarterbacks in 2025
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- HIRO Report: Nebraska Quarterbacks in 2025
In the introductory article to HIRO , the focus was on a simple question: How can we evaluate what happened on the field? By combining every positive and negative contribution into a single score, HIRO was designed to provide another way to look at a player's performance.
Now it's time to see the metric in practice.
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If HIRO had existed during the 2025 season, what would it have told us about Nebraska's quarterback performances?
This report will provide a preview of what HIRO analysis will look like for the upcoming 2026 season by using 2025 as an example. Rather than focusing on a single game, we'll examine an entire season via HIRO and see what stories come up through the data.
Before we begin analyzing Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef's performances, here is a quick reminder of the scale that HIRO uses to grade.
| HIRO Score |
Tier |
|---|---|
| 100+ |
Historic |
| 90–99 |
Elite |
| 85–89 |
Excellent |
| 80–84 |
Great |
| 70–79 |
Good |
| 60–69 |
Average |
| 55–59 |
Replacement Level |
| Under 55 |
Detrimental |
Dylan Raiola
Best Performance: 101 vs Akron
Raiola's highest HIRO score of the season came in Nebraska's matchup against Akron. Reaching triple digits is a rare accomplishment in the HIRO database, reserved for performances that combine high-end production with exceptional efficiency and few mistakes. While some might say, "It was only Akron," it's hard to argue with what Raiola did on the field.
While Akron was one of the weaker opponents on Nebraska's schedule, Raiola left little room to ask for more. The ring chart shows a remarkably balanced performance, with Arm Talent, Big Play Ability, and Efficiency all contributing heavily to the final score. Mobility is nearly absent, meaning Raiola's score can almost be entirely attributed to what he did with his arm. Raiola threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns without committing a turnover, allowing him to keep every point he generated throughout the game.
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Perhaps the most impressive part of the performance is that he accomplished all of this without playing in the fourth quarter. Raiola was so effective in helping Nebraska build a comfortable advantage that his day was finished after three quarters. Lesser competition should be acknowledged, but a historic score still has to be earned. Against Akron, Raiola produced the highest-rated game of the season and the best quarterback performance of the Rhule era.
Toughest Outing: 62 vs Northwestern
Raiola's lowest HIRO score of the season came against Northwestern, finishing with a 62. While the performance did come in a Nebraska win, mistakes prevented Raiola from building a stronger score.
The chart makes that immediately apparent. Ball Insecurity takes up a little less than half of the chart, as Raiola threw an interception and lost a fumble. On the positive side, Arm Talent and Efficiency account for most of Raiola's score. However, the value Raiola created via his passing production was largely offset by the value lost through turnovers.
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Unlike the Maryland game, which we analyzed in the introductory article, Raiola's turnovers limited his score to a much greater extent. Although he committed more turnovers against Maryland, he also generated enough production to absorb the damage and return a Good score. Against Northwestern, the interception and the fumble consumed a much larger portion of his score, pushing the performance to the low end of the Average tier.
Defining Moment: 63 vs USC
If one game encapsulated Raiola's 2025 season, it would be the USC game. The Blackout game featured a ranked Trojan team, a packed Memorial Stadium, and a Nebraska team with just two losses entering the contest. The stage was set for one of the defining moments of the season.
The final score of 63 reflects a game that appeared to be building toward something greater. Nebraska was up 14-6 with 12:04 remaining in the 3rd Quarter, and had driven to USC's 23-yard line when everything changed. On the play, Raiola dropped back to pass, was hit from behind, then fumbled, and was injured. The turnover halted a performance that was trending upward.
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In many ways, the sequence mirrors Raiola's tenure as a whole. The talent was evident, and the flashes of high-level play were hard to ignore. There were plenty of moments that hinted at something special, but Raiola's chapter at Nebraska ultimately ended before fans could see that potential fully realized.
Takeaways
Raiola's 2025 ended up with an average score of 75.8, placing his typical performance in the middle of the Good tier. His game log never dipped below the Average tier.
At the same time, the defining moments of the season often involved missed opportunities. Whether it was turnovers limiting otherwise productive outings or the season-ending injury against USC, Raiola's tenure finished with the sense that there was still more to be seen.
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TJ Lateef
Best Performance: 96 vs UCLA
Lateef's highest HIRO score came in his first start against UCLA, with an Elite performance against UCLA. He was incredibly efficient, going 13-for-15 passing and not committing a turnover.
Like Raiola's game against Akron, Lateef did not need to use his legs to produce. Efficiency nearly takes up half of the chart, with Arm Talent and Big Play ability essentially splitting the rest. Unlike other high-scoring QB performances, Lateef didn't need overwhelming volume to reach the Elite tier. Instead, he maximized nearly every opportunity he was given.
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The 96-point performance ultimately finished as the second-highest quarterback score of the season, trailing only Raiola's Historic outing against Akron. It also ranks as the second-highest quarterback performance of the Rhule era, demonstrating just how effective Lateef was in his first opportunity as Nebraska's starter.
Toughest Outing: 48 vs Iowa
Lateef's lowest HIRO score came against Iowa, finishing with a 48, which falls below the Replacement Level and into the Detrimental category.
What makes this score particularly interesting is that, unlike other low-scoring HIRO performances, TJ did not turn the ball over against Iowa.
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Instead, the culprit is the lack of production. Lateef finished with just 71 all purpose yards. Looking at the chart, we can see that Efficiency and Big Play Ability contribute relatively little, and Arm Talent makes up the majority of the low score. There simply was not enough offensive output to generate a higher score. The result serves as a reminder that mistakes are not the only thing that can drag a score down.
Defining Moment: 65 vs Penn State
Lateef's performance against Penn State serves as the best representation of his 2025 season. The final HIRO score of 65 sits in the middle of the Average tier, making it a fitting snapshot of the role he played throughout the year.
The chart itself is unusual. Nearly the entire score is driven by two categories: Arm Talent and Mobility. Lateef's rushing touchdown creates a sizable Mobility contribution, while Arm Talent accounts for most of the remaining value. Efficiency and Big Play Ability play only minor roles, reflecting a performance that lacked explosive plays and consistent production through the passing game.
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In many ways, the game mirrors Lateef's season as a whole. As a backup quarterback, he was rarely asked to carry the offense on his shoulders. Instead, Nebraska needed him to avoid major mistakes and contribute when opportunities presented themselves. The result was a thoroughly average HIRO performance, which is precisely what makes it the most representative game of his 2025 season.
Takeaways
Lateef finished the season with an average HIRO score of 70.4, placing his performances just inside the Good tier. That average was boosted by his Elite 96-point performance against UCLA. Throughout the season, Lateef wasn't asked to carry the offense. Instead, he was asked to be a game-manager. His performance against Penn State reflects that role, while UCLA demonstrated his potential upside.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 quarterback room produced two very different HIRO profiles. Raiola delivered the highest ceiling, the highest floor, and the only Historic performance of the season. Lateef's year was defined by steady game management punctuated by an Elite outing against UCLA.
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Next, we'll shift our attention to the running back position, more specifically Emmett Johnson. Johnson was the bell-cow back last year, meaning he handled the majority of the carries. We already featured his performance against Akron in HIRO's introductory article, which was the second-highest running back score of the season.
So what was number one? How consistent was Johnson from week to week? And what does HIRO reveal about the season he put together as Nebraska's lead back? We'll discuss on Wednesday.
