It's one thing to say you are preparing like the starter, but it's another thing entirely to know how to practice as the starter. Fortunately for the Oregon Ducks, Dylan Raiola has plenty of experience doing just that, and it's allowed him to have success early in his career in Eugene.
Stepping off the bench in Los Angeles to energize a stunned Oregon sideline following Dante Moore's gruesome concussion against USC, Raiola's poise prevailed. He captained Oregon's 41-27 victory on the road while tossing a pair of touchdowns, and he never lost sight of the reason he had the opportunity. Raiola wasn't trying to take Moore's job. Rather, he hoped to honor Moore with his remarkable play.
After the bye week, Dan Lanning said Moore had practiced with
the Ducks on Monday. However, his status heading into Saturday's game against UCLA remains unclear and will remain so until Big Ten availability reports are released on Wednesday evening. Moore could reclaim his spot at the helm of the offense, but if he isn't healthy enough to do so, Lanning hasn't shied away from his confidence in his veteran backup.
"If he can just play like he played every single time last time, I think we'd be sitting in a really good situation," Lanning said. "So Dylan's got to keep doing what he's been doing, preparing like he's going to be the guy that goes out there every single day, and we need that from every single person on our team. But we don't need anything special from Dylan, other than doing what he's been doing."
Raiola has tossed five touchdowns and completed 83.3% of his passes in his limited action with the Ducks. Over two seasons at Nebraska, Raiola had moments of brilliance, but the former five-star never lived up to his lofty expectations. He threw for 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in his two years in Lincoln, before his time as a Cornhusker ended unceremoniously with a broken fibula.
Transferring to Oregon, Raiola followed a path similar to Moore in 2024. He arrived in Eugene knowing Moore would be the starter, and as a Heisman candidate with pro potential, Raiola knew he could learn a thing or two from the sideline.
Dylan Raiola in Oregon's win on the road vs USC
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) September 30, 2026
19/25 passing
289 passing yards
2 passing touchdowns
Wpic.twitter.com/TMUtFsnEoI
But Raiola's confidence in his abilities has never wavered, and it showed against USC. After finding Evan Stewart to convert a fourth-and-3 in the fourth quarter, Raiola struted down the field, smiling and nodding to the Oregon sideline. Been there, done that.
All the traits that make up a successful quarterback in Oregon's system were evident. If Raiola has to lead the Ducks into a ranked battle at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, the Ducks won't need to change much offensively.
"I think all those things show up. He can play quarterback at a high level," Lanning said. "I think he showed his accuracy in this last game. His decision-making, I think that that's shown up for him, and it's shown up for him in practice. So again, I would just ask him to keep doing the same things he's been doing in practice."
It was relatively surprising to hear that Moore was back at practice a little more than a week removed from taking a hit that sent him to the hospital. Lanning has stressed that the Ducks will use extreme caution with Moore, weighing both his health and his future, and seeing Raiola's sharp play and leadership in the locker room has to ease some concerns.
When Moore does return to the field, the job will be his, and Raiola will get to learn from one of the nation's best again. But if the Nebraska transfer does need to keep the seat warm for another week, he knows how to do it, and the Ducks aren't short on confidence in Raiola if he is thrust into action once again.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon's message to Dylan Raiola: Keep doing what you've been doing
