The Nebraska Cornhuskers were locked in on a come-from-behind victory attempt against the UCLA Bruins in Week 10 when disaster nearly struck. With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, starting quarterback Dylan Raiola went down with what looked like a lower-body injury, putting their season in jeopardy.
After the game, the full extent of Raiola’s injury remained uncertain, but he shared some insight into what happened.
How Long Is Dylan Raiola Out?
Just two days following the game, the initial prognosis is more promising than it appeared on the field. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Raiola is expected to be healthy the next time Nebraska takes the field.
Thamel expressed that Raiola should be fully ready to return for Nebraska’s Week 12 game at USC on November 16. That’s a welcome relief after hearing what Raiola himself said on Saturday.
After the game, Raiola spoke with the media about the injury, specifically him trying to re-enter the game.
“I thought I could go, I thought I could fight through it,” Raiola said. “I was going out there, and I guess it kind of locked up on me. I didn’t know what my body could do. I didn’t think it was enough to give us a chance to win.”
Thamel said the scans on Raiola’s back came back clear on Monday.
What Happened to Dylan Raiola?
With six minutes left in the fourth quarter and down by 13, Raiola had the Cornhuskers driving, poised to close the gap to a single possession. On 2nd & goal from UCLA’s 8-yard line, he dropped back, faked a handoff, and rolled left. Seeing an opening, he cut upfield.
Raiola collided with three UCLA defenders at the 2-yard line, taking a hard hit that momentarily jarred the ball loose, though he was ruled down. After the impact, Raiola stayed on the ground for a few tense moments before slowly rising and limping off the field.
Dylan Raiola was slow to get up after a big hit, and walks off the field pic.twitter.com/6jbDLHjDFi
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
In relief of Raiola following the play was veteran QB Heinrich Haarberg. But it wasn’t that simple.
Following the injury, Haarberg took the field for a snap, but the Nebraska coaching staff re-inserted a clearly hobbled Railoa into the lineup. Raiola couldn’t get the Nebraska offense lined up and he hobbled out of the huddle and fell to the ground.
Raiola was then removed from the field once again. As gritty as that may seem, the coaching staff should certainly be able to have seen that he was not physically right to go back in the game.
Haarberg led the Huskers to a touchdown on the drive via a Dante Dowdell 1-yard rushing touchdown. Ultimately, Nebraska’s comeback attempt was cut short and the lost to UCLA.
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