Report: Dylan Raiola Expected to Play for Nebraska vs. USC Amid Back Injury

Despite suffering a back injury in Saturday’s loss to UCLA, Nebraska true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola is reportedly expected to be under center for the team’s next game.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, scans on Raiola’s back issue “came back clear” and he’s expected to be healthy enough to play when the Cornhuskers face USC on Nov. 16.

Raiola injured his back after getting hit on a quarterback scramble in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game. He tried to re-enter the game two plays later but then asked to be removed from the game. Nebraska went on to suffer a 27-20 loss to UCLA, extending its losing streak to three straight games.

“Got hit in the wrong spot,” Raiola said after the loss. “I’ll come in tomorrow and get checked out and probably get screened. I thought I could fight through it. I went out there and I guess it kind of locked up on me.”

Raiola threw for 177 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-27 passing before exiting the game. He also threw a pick-six at the beginning of the second half, putting the Cornhuskers into a 20-7 hole. After replacing Raiola, Heinrich Haarberg completed two of his seven passes for 32 yards and a game-sealing interception with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

In nine games this season, Raiola has thrown for 1,921 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Nebraska’s bye week will certainly help him get back on track before facing USC.

Despite falling to 5-4, the Cornhuskers will still have the chance to clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016 when it meets the Trojans in two weeks.