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Husker coach Matt Rhule said Monday that scans to Raiola’s back revealed no lingering injury as Nebraska enters a bye week. Raiola suffered a back “contusion,� Rhule said, that will have time to heal.

“He’d probably be questionable for this week if we were playing,� Rhule said. “He should be available for next week.�

Raiola took a hit to his back during a fourth-quarter scramble in NU’s 27-20 loss to UCLA. Raiola briefly attempted to return to play before his back seized up and he collapsed to the ground.

“I thought I could go, I thought I could fight through it,� Raiola said after the game Saturday. “I was going out there, and I guess it kind of locked up on me.�

Raiola completed 14-of-27 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown against the Bruins. He also threw a costly pick-six to start the third quarter as the Huskers’ turnover and red zone troubles cropped up once again.

NU lost its third game in a row.

“This a tough time, so we have to be a good organization,� Rhule said of a week that will include “introspection� and prep for USC. Rhule said he’ll bring in “friends in the business� this week for a fresh set of eyes on his team.

His job is to “consider everything� as it relates to the Huskers’ struggling offense, which hasn’t run the ball well enough to control game, Rhule said, or finished on key drives.

“I thought we would be playing better on offense than we are,� Rhule said. “I thought we’d be running the ball better.�

In the last four contests, Nebraska’s offense has scored 14, 7, 17 and 20 points while averaging 290 yards per contest. Headed into this week’s games, NU ranks 99th nationally in yards per game, 100th in points per game and 107th yards per play.

The Huskers are scoring 18.3 points per game in Big Ten play. Asked directly how offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was calling the games, Rhule said he’d spend time this week reviewing Satterfield’s work. While not overtly defending Satterfield, Rhule said he wants “accountability� from the whole team, including players.

"This is probably the first time you guys have heard me say: The players have to play," Rhule said. "They have to play. They can't just say 'Did you read what they're saying about Satt?' You are Satt. You are the offense. You're out on the field."

While ahead of last year’s scoring and yardage pace, the 2023 offense represented NU’s low water mark in the Big Ten and Big 12 eras.

Satterfield, who had worked for Rhule at Temple, Baylor and the Carolina Panthers, became one of Rhule’s first hires at Nebraska after calling plays for two years at South Carolina. His $1.4 million salary was among the 10 highest in the Big Ten last season; it has since been surpassed by several league coordinators, including Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White.