What a whirlwind of a season it's been for Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola. Within the span of a couple months, he's gone from being on top of the world in leading the Ducks to a win over the USC Trojans in relief of Dante Moore to getting benched, and then throwing a game-winning touchdown, also in relief.
Raiola has since steadied from the back-and-forth of getting benched, and he had one of his best games of his career against the Michigan Wolverines in Week 11 — statistically one of the best defenses in all of college football.
Needing a win in impressive fashion to continue their College Football Playoff hopes, Raiola did his part in completing 20-of-28 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. He got it going right away, throwing a moon
ball down the right sideline to wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan for a 60-yard touchdown on the fourth play of the game. Raiola perfectly placed the ball in McClellan's grasp despite the wide receiver being held by a Wolverines defender.
Dylan Raiola GOES DEEP to Jeremiah McClellan for a 60-yard SCORE!@oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/seTCJNrCQZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 14, 2026
The next time that Oregon had the ball, backed up in their own territory, Raiola floated a pass this time down the left sideline to wide receiver Evan Stewart for a 38-yard gain. By the end of the first quarter and the Ducks holding a 14-0 lead, Raiola had completed 7-of-7 passes for 133 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.
His excellence didn't stop there. Over the next three quarters, Raiola added touchdown passes to Dakorien Moore and Dierre Hill Jr. He would've had a fifth on the day and a second to Moore if the wide receiver hadn't dropped a wide open pass in the end zone in the first half. Regardless, it was one of the best statistical days of Raiola's career — but he passed the eye test as well.
Benched earlier in the year both for ineffectiveness and decision making woes, Raiola limited his turnover-worthy plays against Michigan and got the ball in the hands of his playmakers quickly. And when nobody was open, Raiola had several scrambles in which he gained positive yards, keeping the Ducks ahead of the chains rather than taking a sack or forcing a throw.
Whatever way you look at it, Raiola had his best day as Oregon's starting passer against a stout defense, earning our game MVP award against Michigan.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon QB Dylan Raiola awarded Ducks Wire MVP against Michigan
