Raiola Leaves USC Game with Apparent Leg Injury

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska’s promising freshman quarterback, Dylan Raiola, suffered a leg injury during the third quarter of Saturday’s game against No. 23 Southern California, forcing him to exit the contest and casting a shadow over the remainder of the Cornhuskers’ season. The highly anticipated matchup at Memorial Stadium, which saw Nebraska fall 38-17 to the Trojans, took a somber turn when Raiola went down.

The incident occurred with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter. Raiola, scrambling out of a collapsing pocket on a 3rd-and-8 play from Nebraska’s own 35-yard line, attempted to cut upfield but planted awkwardly on his right leg without contact. He immediately clutched his knee area and remained on the turf as trainers rushed to his side. After several minutes of evaluation, he was helped off the field, unable to put weight on his leg, and was later seen heading to the locker room for further assessment. Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg took over under center.

At the time of Raiola’s departure, Nebraska was trailing USC 24-10, having shown flashes of competitiveness against the ranked opponent. His exit seemed to deflate the team, as USC capitalized on the momentum shift, extending their lead in the final quarter. Raiola had completed 13 of 22 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown before his injury.

Head Coach Matt Rhule addressed the media post-game, expressing deep concern for his young signal-caller. “It’s tough to see any player go down, especially Dylan,” Rhule said. “He’s a competitor, and he’s been battling all season. We don’t have a definitive update yet, but he’ll undergo further imaging tonight and tomorrow. We’re obviously hoping for the best. Heinrich stepped in and battled, and that’s all you can ask for in that situation.”

Raiola, a five-star recruit out of Buford, Georgia, chose Nebraska over a host of national powerhouses and was hailed as the cornerstone of Rhule’s rebuilding effort in Lincoln. As a true freshman, he has started every game this season, leading the Cornhuskers to a 4-5 record prior to Saturday’s contest. He has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns this year, quickly becoming a fan favorite and a symbol of hope for the program’s future. His dynamic playmaking ability and leadership had been critical to Nebraska’s offensive production.

The severity of Raiola’s injury remains unknown, but any significant absence would be a major blow for Nebraska, who still harbor hopes of reaching bowl eligibility. The team faces a challenging schedule in the coming weeks, including matchups against Wisconsin and Iowa. Updates on Raiola’s condition are expected early next week after medical staff completes their evaluations. The focus now shifts to Haarberg, who will likely command the offense in Raiola’s potential absence.