Nebraska football had everything lined up for a statement win Saturday night. Memorial Stadium was rocking under the lights for a blackout game against USC, and for most of the evening, the Huskers looked like they might actually deliver something the fanbase has been starving for.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola will miss the rest of the season because of a lower right leg injury, coach Matt Rhule announced Sunday. Raiola was injured while getting sacked in the third quarter of the Cornhuskers' 21-17 loss to Southern California on Saturday night.

The Trojans extended the Huskers' losing streak against Top-25 teams, but the health of the injured Huskers standout ended up being the game's biggest story.

After a first down, Raiola dropped back and the pocket collapsed. He attempted to run to his right, but apparently no warnings were issued from his blind side and he was crushed from behind and fumbled it back to USC. More importantly, he suffered an apparent ankle injury and T.J. Lateef would have to take over when they once again had the ball.

The "Blackshirts," a reference to the Huskers ’ defense, is a central part of the Nebraska football lore, something that helped the Huskers win five national championships and become one of the most storied programs in college football history. Here’s a closer look at the history of the Blackshirts:

Adidas surprised the Nebraska Cornhuskers with Anthony Edwards' sneakers before they face the USC Trojans on Saturday night.

The 2025-’26 ‘BTPowerhouse Season Preview’ series will take an in-depth look at all 18 teams in the Big Ten heading into the 2025-’26 season with analysis on each program’s previous season, roster overhaul, and top storylines. Each post will also include predictions on each team’s postseason potential.