Dylan Raiola’s decision to transfer from Nebraska to Oregon raised some eyebrows across the college football landscape. After two seasons as the Cornhuskers’ starting quarterback, you’d think he’d be eyeing a program where he could step in and take the reins immediately. Instead, he chose Oregon - a powerhouse with a loaded quarterback room and, as of now, no clear path to the starting job in 2026.
That’s because Dante Moore, the Ducks’ current signal-caller, isn’t going anywhere just yet. Moore recently announced he’s putting the NFL on hold and returning to Eugene for another season.
That move sets the stage for Raiola to spend 2026 on the sideline, at least in a backup role. But here’s the thing - that might have been the plan all along.
College football analyst Josh Pate hinted at that possibility even before Moore made his return official. On a recent episode of his show, Pate addressed the assumption that Raiola’s transfer meant Moore was heading to the draft.
“I saw a lot of reaction out there. As soon as Dylan Raiola signed and that went official, that, ‘Oh, that must mean Dante Moore is going to the draft.’
I can’t emphasize this enough: No one knows what Dante Moore is going to do,” Pate said. “The mock drafts have him in the Top 5, but no one knows what he’s going to do.
So it looks like Dylan Raiola’s comfortable with that no matter what.”
That comfort level is telling. It suggests Raiola may be taking a page out of Moore’s own playbook.
When Moore transferred from UCLA to Oregon ahead of the 2024 season, he did so knowing Dillon Gabriel was already entrenched as the starter. Moore sat that year, developed behind the scenes, and by 2025, he was arguably the better quarterback.
Now Raiola may be following a similar path - and it could pay off in a big way.
Let’s not forget, Raiola’s time at Nebraska was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of the elite talent that made him a top prospect, but consistency was hard to come by.
Add in the broken fibula he suffered in early November, and there’s a strong case to be made for hitting pause. Sitting behind Moore could give him the time he needs to fully recover, refine his game, and learn the Ducks’ offense without the pressure of carrying the team right away.
There’s even a possibility that Raiola could pursue a medical redshirt, depending on how his recovery progresses. That would give him an extra year of eligibility and potentially set him up for a longer runway in Eugene.
According to Pate, Raiola’s camp is on board with that approach.
“There are some people in Dylan Raiola’s camp that would be totally okay with him sitting for a year, if it means sitting behind Dante Moore,” he said.
That mindset - patience over immediate playing time - is rare in today’s college football climate, especially for a former five-star quarterback. But it might be exactly what Raiola needs.
Oregon offers elite coaching, a high-powered offense, and a winning culture. If he can absorb all of that from the sidelines in 2026, he could be more than ready to take over in 2027 - and potentially thrive in a way he never quite did at Nebraska.
In the end, this move might not be about starting right now. It might be about setting up the best possible future. And if that’s the case, Raiola could be playing the long game - and playing it smart.