Things looked a little bleak for the Nebraska Cornhuskers a week ago. Losing an ultra-hyped up home game to USC was one thing. Losing your star quarterback to a broken fibula with three games to play was quite another.
Both happened to the Huskers in a heartbreaking 21-17 loss to the Trojans. With Nebraska leading 14-6 in the third quarter, sophomore QB Dylan Raiola was strip-sacked with the ball deep in Trojan territory. He was injured, the Huskers eventually lost the game and a chance to record their first win over a (currently) ranked opponent since 2016.
Nebraska fell to 6-3 with the loss, and another 6-6 season was looking very possible.
Having Depth in College Football Today is Rare
In this day and age of college football, NIL and the Transfer Portal, depth at any position â much less QB â is a challenge for any program. And when you have a star whoâs just a sophomore under center, bringing in â and keeping happy â a talented backup, someone you can come into a game and not show much if any drop off in production, is darn near impossible. Patience is not in vogue. Nine times out of 10, a talented young player will be looking around and likely transferring to a place he can play immediately, and of course, get paid.
Enter true freshman QB T J Lateef. A four-star recruit from California who had played in two non-conference blow outs â and played very well â had been waiting patiently behind Raiola, not planning on seeing much game action during his first year on campus. Then Raiola was injured, and Lateef was under the spotlight.
It didnât go great against USC. He led one scoring drive that resulted in a field goal but also fumbled a snap that led to a sack on what was developing into a potential game-winning scoring play. Instead, it was a doubly painful loss.
With no time to sulk, Lateef and the Huskers got back to work during the week. The freshman got all the first team reps in preparation for a big road game back in his hometown against UCLA. Displaying calm and poise â plus running ability that Raiola doesnât have â all Lateef did was go 13-15 for 205 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Huskers to a 28-21 win at the Rose Bowl in front of a crowd that was half red. He wasnât sacked and added 31 rushing yards.
Matt Rhule Had Total Confidence in T J Lateef
âIf there was any question about the confidence we have in him,â Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule said to Fox Sports after the game, âItâs the last drive of the game, Weâre in four minute (trying to eat up the last 4:54 on the game clock with a seven-point lead) and weâre throwing the football.
âNothing seemed too big, Rhule continued. âHe played fastâ¦he came back home and did a great job. All week it was never about him, it was always about the team. And the team had unbelievable confidence in him.â
Lateef will lead the Huskers in their two remaining regular season games against Penn State and Iowa before taking snaps in his first bowl game.
And after that?
Raiolaâs injury isnât a long-term deal. He will be back and working out in January and will be full go by spring football. Thereâs no reason to expect he wonât be the starter again next fall when he begins his junior season. If he progresses, he could be an NFL Draft pick after that.
So the obvious question becomes this: Will Lateef stay in Lincoln, stay patient and be ready for his chance to lead the Cornhuskers as a junior for the 2027 season? He would likely see spot duty again in 2026â¦but there are other places he could be the starter next year.
Itâs likely NIL considerations will play a big part, but if youâre Rhule and the rabid Husker fan base, your fingers are crossed. Having a backup QB who can do what Lateef did in his first collegiate start is a luxury most programs can’t afford in todayâs era of college football.
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