Dylan Raiola injury update: Is the Nebraska QB playing against USC in Week 12?

Dylan Raiola started the 2024 college football season as one of the few true freshmen starting in the country. Matt Rhule handed Raiola the keys and he was expected to hit the ground running from day one.

It was going mostly smooth sailing until Raiola suffered a back injury in the Cornhuskers' game against the UCLA Bruins and exited the Gridiron early. Ahead of Nebraska's matchup versus the USC Trojans, let's take a look at Raiola's availability.

Is Dylan Raiola playing against USC?

According to Matt Rhule, Dylan Raiola will be available to play against the Trojans in Week 12. The true freshman hobbled in the Cornhuskers' last game but, thankfully, looks all set to play in their upcoming matchup.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the scans conducted on Raiola after the game came back clear. Furthermore, he's had well over a week to recover from any lingering issues.

Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg stepped in to replace him against the UCLA Bruins. Haarberg had two passes for 32 yards and a pick. He'll return to the bench for the USC showdown.

How has Dylan Raiola performed in his freshman year?

Dylan Raiola was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school. His size, speed, and skill earned him major attention from top-tier collegiate programs, but he decided to choose Nebraska.

One of the reasons for Raiola's decision was the knowledge that he'd be able to compete for the starting quarterback job immediately. Matt Rhule did just that, and Raiola was named the Cornhuskers' QB1 ahead of the 2024 college football season.

In his true freshman season, Raiola has a stat line of 1,921 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games. He has yet to add a rushing touchdown this season.

Raiola has seen ups and downs in his first year of collegiate football. He's led the Cornhuskers to a 5-4 record, and they're on the verge of securing Bowl game eligibility.

However, the Cornhuskers are just 2-4 in their conference, well below their preseason expectations. The offseason will be crucial in Raiola's development moving forward, but first, he must navigate a matchup against a tricky USC Trojans.