Oregon hands Dylan Raiola the UCLA start

What Happened

On Saturday, Oct. 10, Oregon will start junior transfer Dylan Raiola against undefeated UCLA while Dante Moore continues recovering from the concussion he suffered Sept. 26 at USC. It will be Raiola’s first start for Oregon. He replaced Moore against USC and completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 41–27 comeback victory. The decision puts Oregon’s College Football Playoff path and its quarterback hierarchy in Raiola’s hands. The Ducks are 3–1, UCLA is 4–0, and Oregon has not said when Moore will be medically cleared or whether Raiola will start beyond the UCLA game. “If he can just play like he played last time every single time, I think we'd be sitting in a really good situation,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said.

THE PATE STATE READ

Oregon’s quarterback insurance worked when Moore went down. Raiola entered a road game, threw for 289 yards and avoided an interception while leading a 41–27 comeback. That does not erase Moore’s position before the injury or establish Raiola as Oregon’s long-term starter. It does give the Ducks a proven replacement for a game that carries more weight than a routine fill-in assignment. Watch Raiola’s ball security and efficiency against UCLA: can he follow a zero-interception, 19-for-25 performance without the advantage of entering midgame? Then watch the decision after Saturday, Oct. 10, when Oregon must determine whether Raiola’s run ends with Moore’s recovery or continues. Raiola said his previous starting experience has helped him process Oregon’s offense faster. “I think just with the reps that I've banked playing, I feel like when I'm watching tape, things may hit me a little faster. I'm able to recognize it and understand it quicker. Whereas maybe in the past I had to study it a little more, now I can recognize it and implement what we're trying to get done on the offensive side and kind of visualize those plays coming to life.”(Josh has not yet commented.)