Nebraska's Dylan Raiola left the loss to UCLA with a back injury

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola suffered a back injury during the Cornhuskers' 27-20 home loss to UCLA on Saturday and did not return to the game.

Raiola, the FBS' true freshman leader in passing yards, was hit on the end of a 6-yard scramble against the Bruins late in the fourth quarter. He tried to get back in two plays later, then called for play and fell to the ground on the field.

“Got hit in the wrong place,” Raiola said. “I’ll come in tomorrow and get checked out and probably get checked out.”

“I thought I could fight my way through. I went out there and I guess it kind of locked me in.”

Raiola was 14 of 27 for 177 yards and a touchdown and opened the second half with an interception that UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano returned for a 38-yard score.

Backup Heinrich Haarberg replaced Raiola and completed the touchdown drive to cut the Cornhuskers' deficit to seven. However, his attempt at the game-winning drive in the final minute failed when a pass bounced off the knee of Nebraska wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. and into the arms of UCLA defender Kaylin Moore, resulting in a game-winning interception.

Raiola, a five-star recruit and the No. 11 player in the 2024 ESPN 300, has thrown for 1,921 yards and 10 touchdown passes with eight interceptions in nine games.

The Huskers (5-4, 2-4) were looking to earn bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016 with a win over UCLA (3-5, 2-4), but instead suffered their third after a 5-1 start Back-to-back Big Ten loss to coach Matt Rhule's second season.