yahoo
Oregon's football season has been far from smooth, yet the Ducks remain within striking distance of the College Football Playoff picture. On Saturday night in Eugene, they kept those hopes alive by edging a determined Nebraska squad, 17-14, to move to 4-2 on the year.
Starting quarterback Dante Moore was sidelined as he continues to recover from a concussion sustained against USC. Backup Dylan Raiola, who was benched following last week's loss to UCLA, also did not start, leaving Brock Thomas to take the reins for coach Dan Lanning's offense.
Thomas struggled to generate any rhythm through the first three quarters, and Oregon found itself trailing 14-6 entering the final period due to mistakes on both sides of the ball. Lanning had seen enough and turned to Raiola to engineer a comeback against his former team—and the former five-star recruit delivered.
The two-year Nebraska starter guided the Ducks on two scoring drives, the last of which ended with a game-winning touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson, sealing the 17-14 victory. After the game, Raiola expressed affection for his old program while praising his new team for securing the win in front of the home crowd, per Mitch Sherman of The Athletic.
"I love Nebraska. That was my home," Raiola said. "But it was about Oregon tonight. We went out there and did what we needed to do."
For Nebraska, the outcome is a bitter pill to swallow. Raiola's two seasons in Lincoln were marked by inconsistency before a broken leg cut his 2025 campaign short. He left via the transfer portal last spring, and now he has his revenge moment against the school he once called home.
It remains uncertain when Moore will return and who will start at quarterback between Raiola and Thomas if Moore misses additional games. Oregon faces another tough test next week when it travels to Illinois on Oct. 24.
Key Analysis
Raiola's performance off the bench not only salvaged a win for Oregon but also injected intrigue into the quarterback room. His ability to deliver in a high-pressure situation against his former team could complicate Lanning's decision once Moore is healthy. Meanwhile, Nebraska is left to grapple with what might have been, as Raiola's clutch drive serves as a painful reminder of the talent that slipped away.
Originally reported by yahoo.