Cornhuskers lose momentum and their star quarterback in a brutal third-quarter collapse.
What began as a promising afternoon for Nebraska quickly unraveled into a nightmare. The Cornhuskers fell 21–17 to USC in a game that not only cost them a win—but may have jeopardized the rest of their season. Quarterback Dylan Raiola exited in the third quarter after a violent sack left his ankle twisted beneath two Trojan defenders. At the time of his injury, Nebraska led 14–6 and Raiola had thrown for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Backup TJ Lateef stepped in and briefly stabilized the offense, completing his only pass and leading a field goal drive to put Nebraska ahead 17–14 early in the fourth. But the momentum didn’t last. USC responded with a late touchdown, and Nebraska’s offense stalled without its leader. Raiola remained on the sidelines with his helmet on, but never returned to the field.
Jessica Coody of Huskers Radio Network later confirmed Raiola would not re-enter the game. The injury comes just one week after Nebraska secured bowl eligibility with a win over Northwestern, and raises serious questions about their postseason viability.
Raiola entered the game with 1,909 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and only six interceptions—numbers that positioned him as one of the Big Ten’s breakout stars. But his absence exposed the fragility of Nebraska’s offensive depth and reignited concerns about protection schemes that have left him vulnerable all season.
Fans and analysts alike are now asking: Was this just bad luck—or the inevitable result of a system that’s failed to protect its most valuable asset?