Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Dylan Raiola, Matt Rhule address late-game injury during Nebraska’s loss to UCLA

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Dylan Raiola has started every game for Nebraska this season since the true freshman landed the starting quarterback job in training camp. Unfortunately, he was injured late in the loss to UCLA, and his status will be something worth monitoring as we hit Week 11.

Raiola was originally injured late in the fourth quarter with the offense down near the goal line. He came up pointing at his lower back and was clearly in pain while hobbling off the field.

That ailment kept Raiola off the field for the final minutes of the game with Heinrich Haarberg finishing things out. Nebraska would get one final chance to tie the game but a deep ball from Haarberg led to a wild tip-ball interception for the Bruins to end the game.

In the aftermath, Raiola was spotted limping and walking very gingerly off the field.

After the game, head coach Matt Rhule confirmed Raiola was actually cleared by the medical staff to re-enter the game. Unfortunately the pain level hit again as Raiola tried to return.

“When the doctor said he was cleared, I saw him running in,” said Rhule. “I wasn’t part of anything saying ‘Hey, let’s get Dylan in here.’ He went to run out and then obviously just felt the pain again and said he couldn’t do this.”

Rhule also clarified it was a hit to Raiola’s back. Hopefully the fact Raiola was cleared to return means his outlook for Week 11 is okay but it will certainly be a topic of conversation.

Raiola also commented on the situation after the game and said he initially thought he could fight through the pain, but his back locked up again. He said he felt his current state would have hindered the team from having the best chance to win.

“I thought I could go, I thought I could fight through it,” explained Raiola. “I guess it kind of locked up on me, from that point trying to come back but we trust Heinrich in those situations and I thought I could possibly hurt them if I went back out there. Heinrich did a really good job.”

The freshman QB also said he would come in on Sunday to get checked out and scanned to evaluate the ailment. According to Raiola, it is a new injury from anything he’s experienced previously.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.