The similarities between Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes are now well documented.

Raiola, a five-star quarterback out of Georgia, showed up at the Cornhuskers’ camp this summer sporting a similar haircut, facial hair, sunglasses and shoes to those Mahomes typically wears. Raiola also wears a red jersey with the number 15, and his pregame rituals to pump up the crowd seem an awful lot like the routine Chiefs fans have seen at Arrowhead Stadium over the years.

During the No. 22 Cornhuskers’ battle against No. 24 Illinois, Raiola looked a lot like Mahomes in his play on the field, doing his best Mahomes imitation with a lateral throw in the first half.

Later, in the final minute of the first half, Raiola threw an off-balance punt to receiver Isaiah Neyor for an 11-yard touchdown. A very Mahomesian pass.

At halftime, Raiola and the Cornhuskers led Illinois 17-10 in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium. Raiola had 156 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception while completing 16 of 23 attempts through the air.

“Man, it’s cool,” Mahomes said last week of Raiola doing his best impression of the three-time Super Bowl champion. “I was that guy. I grew up watching players — I loved Alex Rodriguez. When I played shortstop, I tried to make plays like him. It helped shape me into the athlete that I am.

“It just tells me I’m getting a little old. That’s the main thing. You got these guys coming up and doing some of that side-arm stuff and stuff like that.”

There are far worse options to replicate on the field than Mahomes. So far, it’s working out pretty well for Raiola and Nebraska.