Matt Rhule’s Nebraska Cornhuskers suffered a 21-17 loss against the No. 23 USC Trojans on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The squad was unable to make the most of their first “Blackout” game, as they donned all-black uniforms for the first time since 2020.
Nebraska now drops to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play. Saturday’s loss also got compounded by Rhule’s continued struggle in big games and the injury of his quarterback, Dylan Raiola.
Matt Rhule’s Struggle in Big Games Continues With the USC Loss
Saturday’s loss extended Nebraska’s losing streak to 29 consecutive games against ranked opponents. Meanwhile, Rhule dropped to 0-8 against Top 25 teams in his tenure at Nebraska.
Matt Rhule is 0-8 against Top 25 teams in his Nebraska career
He owns just 2 wins in 26 tries against RANKED teams in his ENTIRE career pic.twitter.com/lXER1cYJIX
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 2, 2025
Throughout his entire coaching career, Rhule has only two wins in 26 attempts versus ranked opponents, with his last win over a ranked team coming in 2016 at Temple.
“I just know it’s gonna be a battle,” Rhule said following the USC loss. “They played Notre Dame till the very end. All along I told the guys, we’re gonna play back and forth, play back and forth, it’s gonna come down to the end, and you’re gonna have a chance to win the game.
“And we had a chance to win the game. It’s a big time football game. They’re in the position they’re in as a result of what they’ve done.”
The record stinks, as Rhule also lost Raiola in the third quarter after he landed awkwardly on his leg under a defender. He was helped off the field by trainers to Nebraska’s medical tent and later returned briefly to test his ankle.
Raiola did not re-enter the game, and Rhule said it was his decision.
“From a medical perspective, they were like, ‘He can’t run,'” Rhule said. “The trainers didn’t want him to go out there. I know he’s had a history with that ankle, and he was in a lot of pain on the field.
“When I walked off the field, I didn’t think he’d be able to go. So I told Dylan, ‘I love you too much to ask you to play when you’re hurt like this.'”
“I love you too much to ask you to play when you are hurt like this”
Matt Rhule says it was his decision for #Huskers QB Dylan Raiola to not return versus USC and how his lack of mobility after the ankle injury played a factor.
(@1011_News, @kevinsjuts) pic.twitter.com/QIZ0Tdv1Ga
— Chase Matteson (@ChaseMatteson) November 2, 2025
Raiola finished the game with 91 yards passing, completing 10 of his 15 passes and throwing for one touchdown. Freshman TJ Lateef filled his void and completed five of his seven passes for seven yards.
Before the USC loss, Nebraska was ranked No. 48 in the PFSN CFB Playoff Meter. They will head out west next Saturday for a road game versus the UCLA Bruins, who are 3-5 this season.