As expected, the Oregon Ducks are correcting course once again at quarterback. Dan Lanning has made the decision to go back to Dylan Raiola as the starting quarterback for the team's trip to Illinois this Saturday, according to On3's Pete Nakos.
Raiola's time as Oregon's quarterback has been a rollercoaster ride. From playing hero off the bench against USC, to a disastrous start at home against UCLA, to playing hero once more in a come-from-behind victory over Nebraska, Raiola has seemingly done it all in Eugene already. Now, he will make his second start, this time on the road, to keep Oregon's season afloat.
Brock Thomas drew the start last week against Nebraska, but the senior walk-on couldn't move the ball, as the Ducks had less than 100 yards
of offense heading into the fourth quarter. Raiola led a pair of long drives and eventually tossed the winning score to Jamari Johnson with seconds to go.
So far this season, Raiola has completed 64.4% of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Facing an Illinois defense that is one of the worst in the nation at defending the pass, Raiola could build off his heroic performance a week ago and deliver a breakout showing.
Still, the leash is likely short for Raiola, who has had trouble protecting the ball in the past. That was part of the reason why Lanning opted to start Thomas last week, prioritizing preventing turnovers over the potential upside and passing game that Raiola brings. Thomas and Akili Smith Jr. received reps in practice with the starting offense, but Raiola was unsurprisingly given the role for this Saturday.
Oregon and Illinois are set to kick off in Champaign at noon PT, with the game airing live on Big Ten Network.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Report: Dylan Raiola expected to start at QB for Oregon vs. Illinois
