Comparison dive between Patrick Mahomes and Dylan Raiola

As college football fans gear up for the upcoming season, they may tune into a Nebraska football game and be shocked to find 3-time Super Bowl NFL Champion, Patrick Mahomes out warming up on the turf.

Come to find this is not Mahomes, but instead 19-year-old quarterback Dylan Raiola who just so happens also to wear the No. 15, and resembles the star NFL athlete himself.

Many fans and analysts can’t help but notice the striking similarities between the two from their physical attributes to their demeanor on and off the field, Raiola and Mahomes appear to be one and the same.

The similarity conversations of the two took off when images of Raiola began to surface, arriving to games wearing similar styled shades, and then the removal of his helmet revealing a white knot-tying headband underneath his Mahomes-styled hair. Both accessories are commonly found worn by Mahomes himself.

Once fans caught notice, the comparison moved on to the field.

Raiola was a 5-star recruit who de-committed from Georgia before beginning his time at Nebraska, where his father, Dominic Raiola, played. Dylan's father later went on to play for the Detroit Lions in the NFL until 2014.

Now at the next level, Dylan is following in both his father's and Mahomes' footsteps as he unveils his talent at the next level having already contributed to 5 touchdowns within his first 3 games for his freshman season.

Mahomes physical stance contributes a large part to his success on the field, making many question if this will be the same for Raiola as he looks to help lead No. 22 Nebraska to a historic season. Their similar builds only differ at about one inch in height and less than ten pounds in weight, marking the model build for a next-level quarterback.

The athletes themselves have even joined in on the conversation following Raiola's first collegiate touchdown, a 59-yard touchdown pass to Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Neyor, where Mahomes went online to shout out his "Lil Cuzzo" despite not being related.

This tracked massive attention for the Pro player to fame tweet at a college player let alone a freshman in his first game.

Raiola is only the second true freshman starting quarterback in Cornhuskers history, helping lead Nebraska to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2016.

While it is inevitable that the two share many similarities there is still a long road ahead for the two athletes as they both navigate their respective paths for the season.

Mahomes will do so as he looks to three-peat the Super Bowl this season and gain his 4th overall. Meanwhile, Raiola’s first challenge takes place this Friday as the Cornhuskers face their first matched opponent of the season, facing No. 24 Illinois.

Bronwyn Liber is a second-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu