Matt Rhule didn’t spend much time piling onto Dylan Raiola after Nebraska’s 17-14 loss to Oregon on Saturday night in Eugene.
That answer mattered almost as much as the game itself.
Raiola, Nebraska’s former quarterback, entered off the bench in the fourth quarter and helped the Ducks finish off the Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium, with a pass to tight end Jamari Johnson in the end zone sealing Oregon’s win. Even with that ending, Rhule kept his response pointed and measured when asked about Raiola’s role in the Ducks’ comeback.
“Anybody that's played for me, I'm always gonna root for," Rhule said post game. "You know, I want the kids to all have success.
So obviously, you know, good for him to fight back from what he went through last week. At the same time, came at our expense in the end.
So I'm just going to focus on our team."
Rhule said he did not think it was “respectful” to Nebraska or Oregon to break down individual players any further after a loss like that.
The Cornhuskers did plenty to keep the game tight, but they could not find the one play that would tilt it back their way. Nebraska and Oregon each finished with 242 total offensive yards, even though the Cornhuskers had built a noticeable edge in yardage earlier in the game. Rhule pointed to fatigue, especially in the run game, as the reason things started to slip.
“I think a lot of the - you know, I won't take anything away from them. I think a lot of it was fatigue.
You know, I think just the we were on the field too much all night, you know, and something they did a nice job of - they just kind of constantly stayed on schedule. But it was really a lot of the run game, you know, was second and six, it was third and 2/4, and one,” Rhule said
He added that Nebraska was close to forcing a key stop late.
“Just, we just needed to make one more big play. Victor [Evans III] came up really big twice and now they roll out on the fades.
But weren't able, obviously, the last play we had, but they could go back to the last play of the game. They just came off the right edge versus the left tackle, and probably was four or five inches away, from knocking the ball out of Raiola's hands,” Rhule added.
Rhule was also asked directly whether the late kickoff had anything to do with Nebraska looking sluggish as the night wore on. He would not go there, saying he “would never” use the timing as an excuse for the way his team played in the second half.
Even with both offenses struggling, the defenses made the game feel like a grind from start to finish. Rhule framed the loss as another hard lesson against top-level competition, saying Nebraska is still a team that will keep fighting.
“Yeah, I'm not. You know, I don't think we're the type of team that's going to not stay with it.
You know, Indiana is as good team as there is in the country. This is as talented a team as there is in the country.
Going into the year, they said we were playing these two teams. I mean, you know, I thought they were two really good teams, and so having a game like this, you see how far you've come,” Rhule said.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Has A Big Defensive Line Opening
Nebraskas defensive front took a significant hit against Oregon when Anthony Jones suffered a broken foot, and the Cornhuskers now face an extended stretch without one of their most steady presences. Jones has started all seven games this season, and beyond the production, former Nebraska player Jay Moore pointed to the leadership and maturity the defense will have to do without while Jones recovers.
The next question is how Nebraska reshuffles the line in his absence, and Moore believes Kade Pietrzak is the obvious name to watch. Pietrzak has appeared in all seven games but has not started yet, leaving the Huskers with a real opening for a player who has been in the rotation and now has a chance to take on a far bigger role. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Lands A Huge Blackout Spotlight As Backfield Concerns Grow
The Halloween Blackout game against Washington now has a stage to match the atmosphere, with Nebraska set for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on the Big Ten Network. The broadcast plans are also in place for the Huskers upcoming games against Illinois and Iowa, while the details for Rutgers and Ohio State will wait until closer to kickoff.
For a team already dealing with some backfield uncertainty, the timing matters. Nebraska has lost fullback Vincent Genatone for the season, and running back Isaiah Mozee is expected to miss an extended stretch, adding another layer of concern as the schedule tightens and the spotlight grows brighter. [Read more 🡒]
Fred Hoiberg Sees One Early Nebraska Concern That Could Matter Fast
Fred Hoiberg spent part of his preseason media session circling back to a familiar concern for Nebraska as the Huskers get ready for an exhibition against Kansas State: how to replace the rebounding lost through player departures. With Nebraska drawing attention in the preseason rankings, Hoiberg made it clear the next step is not about the outside buzz but about tightening the details, especially with guards needing to help on the glass.
The other subplot is Sam Orme, who is working back from a hamstring injury and remains questionable for the exhibition. Hoiberg also said he plans to give the starters more minutes while still leaning on a deep rotation in the tune-up, which should offer an early look at how Nebraska handles both the physicality and the depth questions that can quickly show up once games start counting. [Read more 🡒]