The losing streak against top-25 teams would soon be over. Nebraska was about to firmly plant itself in the playoff hunt. Early in the third quarter of NU’s critical showdown with USC, the Huskers appeared poised to take full and convincing control of the game. With a first-and-ten at the Southern Cal 23-yard line, and all of the game momentum on the Nebraska side, a score to go up by 15 points seemed imminent.
But as quarterback Dylan Raiola stepped up in the pocket to to avoid a blitz, he met a wall of interior pass rushers. A Trojan defender bent him backwards, breaking his fibula, and sidelining him for the game and the season. A shell-shocked Husker team couldn’t quite do enough to hang on to the lead.
Nebraska would eventually fall 21-17 in front of a heartbroken blackout crowd.
The game could not have started better for Nebraska. The USC boldly elected to receive the kickoff to begin the game, and were punished by an inspired Blackshirt crew forcing an immediate three-and-out. On its first possession, the Husker offense then marched 75 yards in 14 plays for a touchdown, a spectacular 14-yard grab at the front pylon by senior receiver Dane Key.