The Nebraska Cornhuskers have been dealt quite the hand this season with the number of injuries they have had on the team, most notably to starting quarterback Dylan Raiola. This was meant to be the season where everything clicked under head coach Matt Rhule for the Cornhuskers, and it just feels like another season of just getting by.
There has been one bright spot, though, and that is what Nebraska saw from backup quarterback TJ Lateef in his first game as a starter. Lateef luckily had a bye week to get ready for his first game as a starter against UCLA, and it seemed to work out in his favor.
Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef is a Manning Award Star of the Week
Made his mark ✔️@TJ_Lateef9 has been named one of the @ManningAward Stars of the Week. pic.twitter.com/RlvWLcvFfE
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) November 12, 2025
There was a lot of conversation around Nebraska's game against UCLA last week surrounding new quarterback TJ Lateef. The young freshman ended up having to step into the starting lineup earlier in his career than he expected with the leg injury to Dylan Raiola.
In his first game as a starter, however, against UCLA, Lateef was 13-for-15 with 205 passing yards and three touchdown passes while also not turning the ball over. He also added five rushes for 31 yards to show his dual-threat ability.
That performance against the Bruins earned Lateef the honor of being named a Star of the Week by the Manning Award voters. The Manning Award is given to the best quarterback in college football at the end of the season, so to be named a Star of the Week is a pretty big deal.
Lateef still has a lot of learning to do in his college career, but to be able to lead his team to a win in his first start in the middle of the season is a great way to start it all off.