Matt Rhule Says Huskers at a 'Crossroads' After USC Loss, Heading to UCLA

LINCOLN—Matt Rhule said Nebraska football is "at a crossroads."

The Huskers are 6-3 after a 21-17 loss to No. 23 USC. In that loss, the Big Red also lost starting quarterback Dylan Raiola for the season. With a true freshman stepping in and a College Football Playoff berth officially off the table, Rhule said this is a pivotal moment for the season and the program.

"We're sitting at a crossroads right now as a team," Rhule said at Monday's press conference. "It's an unbelievable opportunity for us. These next three games are some of the most important time for our team and for our program moving forward."

Nebraska quarterbacks Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef during the USC game. — Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola will have surgery this week, handing the reins to true freshman TJ Lateef for the remainder of the season. | Cory Edmondson, KFGE

Rhule likened the moment to one of his favorite books: "Legacy". The James Kerr book is about the New Zealand rugby team, more commonly known as the All Blacks. The book looks at the iconic team that had "kind of lost their way" before rebuilding and the rules that they lived by.

"One of them is plant trees that you'll never see," Rhule said. "It's about leaving places better than you found them. I really wanted our seniors to have a chance to continue to battle and fight to be a CFP team."

Rhule added that Saturday's effort from players that won't be here to see how high the program can go and environment from the fans are seeds that will get Nebraska back to a place among the nation's elite.

"I thought the way they fought, battled, and compete for each other when they had some bad breaks... I think those are the things that you can build off of," Rhule said. "I thought what everyone did with the blackout will have a profound impact on what we're trying to get done moving forward.

"I do think it's important, while we're disappointed and angry and upset, to also be very, very grateful for that atmosphere, for that crowd, for that opportunity."

Nebraska players run to the end zone to celebrate Andrew Marshall's interception against USC. | Cory Edmondson, KFGE

On the injury front, Raiola will have surgery this week for a broken fibula suffered in the USC game.

Offensive tackle Elijah Prichett was also hurt against USC. Rhule expects him to be ready to go at UCLA on Saturday, along with the other banged offensive lineman like Turner Corcoran.

You can watch the full media session from Monday below. Continue scrolling for more coverage.

Coverage

Husker247 | Rhule excited to see Lateef play: 'And we're going to rally around him'
Husker247 | Rhule updates injury picture at offensive tackle
Husker247 | Raiola will have surgery this week to repair broken fibula
Nebraska Athletics | Matt Rhule quotes
Omaha World-Herald* | 'We've got TJ Lateef': How Nebraska is rallying around its new freshman starting quarterback
Omaha World-Herald* | Elijah Pritchett latest offensive tackle to battle injury as attrition war wages
Omaha World-Herald* | Gashed by USC, Nebraska's run defense gets another challenge in UCLA and Nico Iamaleava
Omaha World-Herald* | Rhule explains why Nebraska used two timeouts in four plays, field goal decision
Omaha World-Herald* | Rhule reflects his time as a UCLA grad assistant
Lincoln Journal Star* | Dylan Raiola to undergo surgery; another offensive lineman out for season
HuskerOnline* | Rhule Report: Nebraska's life without Raiola, talking UCLA
HuskerOnline* | What we learned from Nebraska's UCLA week press conference
Inside Nebraska* | Rhule on Nebraska's defense vs. USC, six plays accounting for 107 of USC's 337 total yards
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From the other side

Bruin Report | Skipper talks Nebraska, facing a backup quarterback, and more
UCLA Bruins On SI | Skipper Details UCLA's 'Unknown' Challenge vs. Raiola-Less Nebraska
UCLA Bruins On SI | This Star Injury Changes Everything for UCLA vs. Nebraska
UCLA Wire | Nebraska set to start Los Angeles native TJ Lateef following Dylan Raiola's injury
Los Angeles Times* | Are Bruins willing to sell their football soul to move to SoFi Stadium?
Go Joe Bruin | UCLA needs to instill the passion again that Jim Mora Jr. brought
Go Joe Bruin | Anthony Barr going from offense to defense changes his career forever
Daily Bruin | Lawsuit accuses UCLA of trying to move home football games to SoFi Stadium

More Info

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
Sep. 6 Nebraska 68, Akron 0
Sep. 13 Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
Sep. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Oct. 4 Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27
Oct. 11 Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
Oct. 17 Minnesota 24, Nebraska 6
Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern 11 a.m. FS1
Nov. 1 USC 21, Nebraska 17
Nov. 8 at UCLA 8 p.m. FOX
Nov. 22 at Penn State TBA
Nov. 28 (Black Friday) vs. Iowa 11 a.m. CBS

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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