Nebraska

Nebraska believes in backup QB TJ Lateef, but can the freshman beat UCLA?

Published

4 days ago

November 6, 2025

Nebraska believes in backup QB TJ Lateef, but can the freshman beat UCLA?

Nebraska has no choice but to trust freshman quarterback TJ Lateef this Saturday as the Cornhuskers face the UCLA Bruins. During their loss to USC last week, Nebraska saw quarterback Dylan Raiola break his fibula, ending his season.

Matt Rhule expresses his belief in Lateef but at this point he has no other option

The Cornhuskers’ head coach Matt Rhule said all the right things about Lateef but the odds are stacked against him, with Nebraska likely to be without both of their starting tackles. Both tackles were injured in the Cornhuskers’ loss last week against USC.

Nebraska will adjust their gameplan to fit the dual-threat Lateef

“I think making sure we put together a plan and that he’s comfortable with everything he needs to do. As I said, guys are going to have to do a great job of being strong around him. Even in the game, he came out with a check down in the red zone and he saw zero, he checked it to a tunnel screen,” Rhule said of Lateef. “Jacory (Barney) is wide open and he would’ve walked it in, just dropped the snap. He’s mentally, though, at a really, really high level. He just needs reps. When you’re the backup quarterback, you’re getting reps but not as many. Now, he needs reps. Jalyn (Gramstad) needs reps. Anybody else we use at quarterback will need reps this week.”

Lateef has had success in his limited action

Lateef has seen a bit of action this season in relief duties, throwing for 261 yards and a touchdown on 16-19 passing. On the ground Lateef has picked up 50 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Lateef has fumbled three times, all coming against the Trojans, but Nebraska was able to recover all three.

Dylan Raiola is a gamer

Rhule expressed his belief in Lateef and his admiration for Raiola’s toughness, who was trying to re-enter the game after breaking his leg.

“I believe 100% in TJ (Lateef) and what he’s going to get done and we’re going to put a great game plan together for him. I hate it for Dylan (Raiola). I love Dylan. If anyone says anything about Dylan just know this, the kid had a broken leg and he was warming up and begging me to play. That’s all you need to know about that kid to know who he is.” Rhule said.

UCLA needs to take advantage of the depleted Cornhuskers

Nebraska has the deck stacked against them, now it’s up to UCLA to make them pay.

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Nebraska

HUSKERS Halftime Recap – And Second Half Game Thread!: NEBRASKA 21 UCLA 7

Published

16 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Press Room

HUSKERS Halftime Recap – And Second Half Game Thread!: NEBRASKA 21 UCLA 7

So far, two things are happening – 1) UCLA is proceeding almost exactly as expected and 2) We are getting exactly the performance from T.J. Lateef we require as Emmett Johnson remains in beast mode.

I thought we would be able to contain UCLA signal-caller Nico Iamaleava through the air and at the break he has only 64 yards passing. I also thought he would hurt us with his legs and he has – 10 carries for 71 yards. Would you believe me if I told you that is under his sack-adjusted YPC? It is – he averaged 8 YPC coming into this game.

On the Huskers side, I expected Emmett Johnson to carry the water while expecting not a heavy load for Lateef with the hope being he could work a mistake-free short passing game, and use his legs to move the chains here and there.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Can the Huskers put two halves together? That’s been a challenge against teams not called Akron or HCU. Tonight seems like a perfect place to start.

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Nebraska

Where to watch Nebraska vs UCLA today: Time, TV channel for Week 11 game

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2025

Press Room

Where to watch Nebraska vs UCLA today: Time, TV channel for Week 11 game

An intriguing Big Ten matchup will take place in the Rose Bowl in Week 11 with Nebraska visiting UCLA.

The Cornhuskers’ slim chance of making the College Football Playoff were wiped away when they lost at home to USC. Even worse, Nebraska lost its quarterback with Dylan Raiola out for the season with a broken fibula. Now, Matt Rhule turns to freshman TJ Lateef to end the campaign on a high note.

It’s a fresh UCLA team returning to action, coming off a bye week after it got steamrolled by Indiana. At 3-5, the Bruins are eyeing bowl eligibility while having three games against ranked opponents left, making this game an important one to win.

Stream Nebraska vs. UCLA football live with Fubo (free trial)

Here’s how to watch the Nebraska-UCLA game, including time, TV channel and streaming information, and game odds:

What TV channel is Nebraska vs UCLA on today?

Nebraska vs. UCLA will be broadcast nationally on Fox in Week 11 of the 2025 college football season. Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Devin Gardner (analyst) will call the game from the booth, with Josh Sims reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Nebraska vs UCLA time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 8
Time: 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Nebraska and UCLA are set to kick off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Saturday, Nov. 8 from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Stream Nebraska vs. UCLA football live with Fubo (free trial)

Nebraska vs UCLA predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, Nov. 5

Spread: UCLA (-1.5)
Over/under: 43.5
Moneyline: UCLA (-120) | Nebraska (+100)

Prediction: UCLA 19, Nebraska 16

Expect this one to be a defensive battle with both offenses not really having much firepower. Without Raiola, Nebraska is unable to find a rhythm and falls to UCLA for the second straight season.

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Huskers facing upstart UCLA Bruins in late-night west coast meetup

Published

2 days ago

November 7, 2025

Press Room

Huskers facing upstart UCLA Bruins in late-night west coast meetup

PASADENA, Calif. (WOWT/KOLN) – Nebraska’s crisscrossing adventures in the recently expanded Big 10 find the Huskers in a late-night showdown against the upstart UCLA Bruins.

Nebraska comes to the west coast more underhanded than usual, as star QB Dylan Raiola suffered a season ending injury in the third quarter of the loss to USC the previous week.

Sophomore Tackle Gunnar Gottula is also out for the rest of the year, suffering a knee injury and adding on to a increasing laundry-list of injuries on the offensive side of the ball.

Backup QB TJ Lateef, a true freshman with athletic upside and plying experience in Nebraska’s two big blowouts, will have to take the reins against a UCLA squad that has found new life since firing their head coach, but still boasting a 3-5 record with wins over Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland all in sequence.

Head Coach Matt Rhule said the team is focused on setting Lateef up for success in his debut.

“You know this week to me is not about TJ, at least my message to our guys,” Rhule said. “It’s about everyone else making this where every single person has to do their job at such a high level that TJ can just do his job and not try to do anything more. But TJ can do his job. He’s an excellent player and I think everyone’s going to see him play really, really well.”

FULL VIDEO: Nebraska QB TJ Lateef | USC Post-Game Press Conference (11/1/25)

While the Huskers are already bowl-bound, one would imagine a new version of the Big Red will be taking the field once Saturday rolls around.