Dylan Raiola’s move to Oregon has done more than add another big name to the Ducks’ quarterback room. It has helped create one of the most unusual setups in the transfer portal era: two former 5-star recruits, both Big Ten starters at one program, both in Eugene, both giving Oregon a level of depth most teams can only dream about.
That’s why CBS Sports put the Ducks at No. 1 in its ranking of the best position groups in college football, calling Oregon’s quarterbacks a “no-brainer” for the top spot. In a sport where the portal usually empties out quarterback rooms, Oregon has gone the other way. The Ducks have built a room that gives them both immediate firepower and a clear path forward.
A big reason is Dan Lanning’s track record. Entering his fifth season, he has not lost a full-time starter to the portal, and he has also convinced players with NFL Draft grades to come back for another year. That group includes Moore, center Iapani Laloulu, defensive linemen A’Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander, linebacker Teitum Tuioti and defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei.
For Oregon, the payoff is obvious. With Moore and Raiola, there’s no need to pick between winning right now and protecting the future. The Ducks have both, plus the kind of depth that matters over a long season, a tough Big Ten schedule and an extended playoff run.
Moore is the cleanest example of how the system has worked. After transferring from UCLA, he spent a season behind Dillon Gabriel, learning the offense, adjusting to life in Eugene and getting ready for his chance.
When it came, he delivered. In 2025, Moore won the starting job and led Oregon to the CFP Semifinal, completing 296 of 412 passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
He also finished fourth nationally with a 71.8 completion percentage.
Lanning pointed to the structure behind it all.
“There's a formula. And we've had a lot of guys come here and be able to execute that formula. I think it's a great learning experience for both those guys and in our league, you never know when you need another quarterback," Lanning said.
Raiola now gets the chance to follow that same path. He has two years of eligibility left and has already impressed the staff in spring practice with his “cerebral edge.” Lanning said Raiola has been asked to handle things he has not been asked to do before, but the talent is there.
“You always have to have somebody up and ready. And there's been a lot of guys in that room that are performing really well, but it's been good growth for Dylan, we're asking to do things he's never been asked to do.
He has the talent to do it all. He's a very intelligent player," Lanning said.
Raiola is joining a crowded room that also includes junior Brock Thomas, who won the backup job last season, along with redshirt freshman Akili Smith Jr., sophomore Ryder Hayes and redshirt freshman Mark Wiepert.
His decision to transfer came before Moore decided whether to return for 2025 or enter the 2026 NFL Draft, where he was projected as the No. 2 overall pick. Moore ultimately came back, and that changed the shape of the depth chart in Eugene.
Raiola, who started two seasons at Nebraska, has spoken openly about humbling himself in a backup role and embracing an uncomfortable situation. He could have gone anywhere. Instead, he chose Oregon, a program that has built a quarterback pipeline strong enough to make the Ducks look more and more like “QBU.”
The NFL track record helps explain why. Oregon quarterbacks who started under center in 2025 include Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, Marcus Mariota of the Washington Commanders, Dillon Gabriel of the Cleveland Browns and Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints.
And with Moore and Raiola now in the same pipeline, Oregon’s quarterback room suddenly looks even more dangerous.
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Matt Rhule Just Got A Telling Big Ten Reality Check
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USA TODAYs evaluation points straight at the trenches, where Nebraskas line play on both sides of the ball remains the clearest test of whether Rhule can push the program higher. The offense and defense both had stretches that undercut the bigger picture, even with Emmett Johnson producing a standout rushing season, and the late-season issues gave the ranking a harsher edge. Nebraska now turns the page toward Sept. 5, when it opens 2026 at Memorial Stadium against Ohio on FS1. [Read more 🡒]