Dante Moore is back at practice, but the answer to the Oregon Ducks' quarterback conundrum this week remains unclear. Can Moore return in time to face his former team, UCLA? Or will the Ducks hand the keys to the veteran backup?
Oregon won't be forced to decide until Saturday morning, but the coaching staff and players in the locker room have plenty of confidence in Dylan Raiola, who shined in relief against USC to capture a 41-27 win on the road.
Raiola came to Eugene and was meant to be the next man up after Moore leaves for the NFL. Instead, his number was called earlier than expected, and his experience as a starter for two years at Nebraska was evident, but so was his growth in his short time in Eugene.
In critical moments in a rivalry game
on the road, Raiola didn't waver. His poise was incredible, and nothing seemed to faze the former five-star. Raiola possesses one quality that can help the Ducks through a time where not only is there stress on the team to win, but stress surrounding who will be throwing the ball on game day.
"Calmness," Oregon offensive lineman Dave Iuli said. "I feel like Dylan coming in to start this week and doing everything for us, I feel like he's been really calm, and I would expect that from Dylan because he had a lot of experience last year. But I would say the biggest thing that I see from Dylan that I love right now, especially as an offensive lineman, is that he's super calm. Everyone would see your QB panicking or overthinking a lot. You could tell he has ball knowledge, and just super happy Dylan got to step up and excited to see more of him."
That tracks with Raiola, who isn't trying to win the game on every play with the Ducks. He's learned to trust in Drew Mehringer's system and execute his role, which is already massive in Oregon's offense.
Having gained the trust of his teammates around him, preparing for a game as a starter, even when he might be the backup, is simple. The Ducks' offense is pushing forward as a fist, with everyone involved, rather than taking solo journeys. The quarterback is still the leader of any movement, and if Moore doesn't suit up on Saturday, Raiola will be in a familiar role as the leader.
"It's not a one-man show. It's a full unit doing their job," Raiola said. "My sense of peace comes from, one, my Lord and Savior, and then two, just my preparation and the game plan and understanding what needs to get done with that play. We'll take one play at a time and do it that way."
Raiola came to Oregon to learn from Moore, taking on a backup role for the first time that he could remember. It was a new experience, but not one he was uncomfortable with. Now, as he gears up to potentially make his first start with the Ducks against UCLA, Oregon's pass catchers haven't seen any change in Raiola's preparation.
Dylan Raiola-Dakorien Moore
— Barstool Ducks (@BarstoolDucks) September 27, 2026
WHAT A PLAY!!!! pic.twitter.com/PoaWpqE0UJ
Wideout Evan Stewart connected with Raiola often against USC, including for a short touchdown just after Moore left the field in an ambulance, and later on a fourth-down pass to extend a drive that led to a score. Stewart and Raiola have worked together in the offseason in Texas in the past, and the familiarity is paying off, both on the field and in practice.
If Raiola draws the start on Saturday, Stewart knows his quarterback won't let the offense down.
"Same Dylan. I mean, of course, it's just a different role," Stewart said. "He's been dialed in on every little detail, just trying to hone in on the whole offense and just understanding the scheme and leading with direction. So yeah, he's been head on straight."
At Nebraska, for every great play Raiola made, he would also make some head-scratching mistakes. His natural talent is apparent, but he could force the action at times, breaking free from the system and trying to win games by himself.
While facing the Oregon defense in practice, Raiola has taken the pressure off himself and found success applying what he has learned from Moore to the practice field. The Ducks' defense faces some of the best quarterbacks in the country every day in practice, and Raiola is far from the average backup.
"It's been impressive," Oregon linebacker Jerry Mixon said. "He's been ready, like he hasn't laid back since he was a backup quarterback. He's been ready the whole time, learning from Dante. He's been starting for two years, so he knows what to do when he gets out there."
While Raiola's competitive fire burns hot, he hasn't lost sight of the fact that he is the backup to Moore, who has put in his time with the Ducks and is in his third season in Eugene. Although leading Oregon's offense can be a thrill, Raiola still sees the bigger picture, and that can't be achieved without Moore's help along the way.
When Moore is ready to return, whether it is on Saturday against UCLA or in the future, Raiola will hand the reins over and return to the bench, studying Moore's processing and craft to hopefully follow in his footsteps in 2027.
"I'll just say, (Moore) being back out there this week and just seeing him back there smiling, ripping the ball, making throws, making plays, guys feed off of that energy, and I'm one of those guys included," Raiola said. "So it's a back-and-forth relationship. We're always trying to get better. Just to have him out there and working and doing that stuff, it's a big joy for the entire team."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dylan Raiola's calm leadership easing Oregon's transition at QB
