In a tense matchup on November 1, 2025, the Nebraska Cornhuskers fell 21-17 to the No. 23 USC Trojans at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The game began in Nebraska’s favor, as the Huskers led 14-6 at halftime behind a dominant rushing attack from Emmett Johnson, who finished with 165 yards and a touchdown. But the momentum shifted in the second half after quarterback Dylan Raiola suffered a lower-leg injury early in the third quarter, forcing him to leave the game.
USC capitalized on the change, tying the score with a 16-yard run from Jayden Maiava before King Miller’s six-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the Trojans ahead for good. Nebraska briefly regained the lead with a 39-yard field goal, but without Raiola’s steady presence, their offense struggled late.
Despite holding USC to only 135 passing yards, the Huskers couldn’t contain the Trojans’ 202-yard ground game. The loss dropped Nebraska to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play, while raising concerns about Raiola’s health and the team’s offensive future.
Sophomore quarterback Raiola’s 2025 season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers came to an abrupt end during a night that started full of hope but ended in disappointment. Early in the third quarter against USC Trojans, Raiola completed 10 of 15 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown when he was hit while stepping back to pass, fumbled, and felt his lower right leg buckle under the blow.
He was helped off the field, clearly in pain, and did not return to the game. Within hours, medical tests confirmed he had suffered a broken right fibula, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
For the season, Raiola had completed an impressive 72.4 % of his passes and amassed over 2,000 yards along with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions—an upward trajectory for a player already starting since his arrival at Nebraska.
Coach Matt Rhule acknowledged that although Raiola insisted he wanted to return, the medical staff advised otherwise: “I love you too much to ask you to play when you’re hurt like this,” Rhule said.
Now, as Raiola begins the recovery process, the narrative shifts from what might have been this season to what lies ahead — the rehab, the return, and the challenge of coming back stronger. The Huskers will finish the season without their starting signal-caller, while their quarterback of the future begins taking the reins earlier than anticipated.
Dylan Raiola’s injury is a major setback for Nebraska, both immediately and for the remainder of the season. As the team’s offensive leader and most dynamic playmaker, his loss disrupts the Huskers’ rhythm and limits their passing threat, forcing the offense to lean heavily on the run game. It also puts pressure on the backup quarterbacks to step up in Big Ten play, where every game matters for bowl positioning. Beyond this season, Nebraska must focus on Raiola’s recovery and development, as his long-term health is vital to the program’s rebuilding under Coach Rhule.
