Dylan Raiola suffered a season-ending broken fibula in Nebraska’s Nov. 1 loss to USC. His younger brother Dayton Raiola decommitted from the Cornhuskers on November 19th. The sophomore had completed 72.4% of his passes before the injury. The duo’s split marks a major blow to Nebraska’s quarterback future.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Dylan Raiola suffered a broken right fibula on Nov. 1, 2025.
- He completed 10 of 15 passes before being injured in the third quarter.
- Dayton Raiola decommitted from Nebraska on November 19th.
- Nebraska now has just nine pledges in the 2026 recruiting class.
- True freshman TJ Lateef replaced Dylan and went 5-for-7 vs. USC.
How Dylan Raiola Got Hurt
The Nebraska starting quarterback took a crushing hit early in the third quarter against USC.
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Dylan was sacked and lost a fumble in the process. He fell awkwardly and immediately suffered a broken right fibula. Coach Matt Rhule said Dylan wanted back in the game. But the sophomore couldn’t put weight on his injured leg. It was too risky, so Rhule made the smart decision to keep him out.
Before the injury, Dylan had thrown for 91 yards, 10 completions out of 15 attempts, and one touchdown. True freshman TJ Lateef took over immediately and completed 5 of 7 passes for 7 yards. Dylan’s season was over.
The Season Dylan Was Having
Dylan was putting together a solid 2025 campaign before the injury ended everything.
Through nine games, he’d completed 72.4% of his passes. He had 2,000 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. He’d been intercepted just six times. For a sophomore quarterback, those are respectable numbers in his second season running the offense.
The Cornhuskers built their season around Dylan’s strong arm and growing confidence. His loss rippled through the entire program immediately.
What This Means for Nebraska’s Future
| Event | Impact |
| Dylan Raiola Injury | Lost starting QB for remainder of 2025 season |
| Dayton Raiola Decommitment | No 2026 QB commitment; only 9 pledges in class |
| TJ Lateef Steps In | True freshman must lead team the rest of season |
| Recruiting Crisis | Nebraska heads into Dec. early signing period without backup QB commit |
The injury left Nebraska scrambling. Suddenly, the program had no promising quarterback committed for 2026. That’s a massive problem weeks before signing day.
Dayton Raiola was a three-star quarterback from Buford High School in Georgia. He was ESPN’s No. 76 pocket passer in the 2026 class. He’d committed to Nebraska back in September 2024. But on November 19th, he pulled the plug and reopened his recruiting.
The Raiola Family Connection
Their father, Dominic Raiola, is a former Nebraska player. He also played center in the NFL for the Detroit Lions. The family has deep ties to the program. Having both brothers commit to Nebraska seemed like a natural fit.
Now that’s in serious jeopardy for the program.
What’s Next for Nebraska
The Huskers are at 4-3 in the Big Ten entering rivalry week. They face Penn State on the road. Without their starting quarterback, playoff hopes are dwindling fast.
- TJ Lateef leads the offense moving forward.
- Recruiting efforts must pivot immediately for 2026 QB.
- Dayton remains uncommitted and exploring other schools.
- Nebraska now ranks among smallest 2026 recruiting classes in the FBS.
- Early signing day is December 3-5, 2025.
Can Nebraska Bounce Back from This Setback?
Losing Dylan Raiola to injury was bad enough. But his brother’s quick exit added insult to injury.
The situation raises tough questions. Did the program promise too much to the Raiola family? Are other recruits having second thoughts? How does Nebraska recover from losing its quarterback anchor just two weeks before signing day?
Coach Matt Rhule is only in his third season rebuilding the program. This crisis tests his ability to respond under pressure. The Cornhuskers need to win immediately on the field and shore up their recruiting class fast.
Sources
- ESPN – Dylan Raiola injury report and Dayton decommitment coverage
- Sports Yahoo – Brother’s decommitment announcement reporting
- Fox Sports – Nebraska season impact analysis
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.