Oregon heads into Saturday night looking to answer a few big questions after its 17-15 loss to UCLA in Week 6, a setback that dropped the Ducks out of the rankings and left them at 1-2 on the year. The next challenge comes at Autzen Stadium, where Nebraska arrives at 5-1 after pushing Indiana hard last week.
The biggest storyline for Oregon is on offense, where the Ducks have plenty to clean up after coughing the ball up six times before the final play of the game against the Bruins. The quarterback picture is still unsettled, too.
Head coach Dan Lanning has not named a starter, with Dylan Raiola, Brock Thomas and Akili Smith Jr. all in the mix. Raiola struggled last week, Thomas impressed after entering in relief, and Smith remains the wild card after appearing in just one competitive game in his career, when he threw four passes against FCS Portland State.
Oregon’s defense at least gave the Ducks something to build on. Even while surrendering a few chunk plays, it held up well against UCLA and will have to do it again against a Nebraska offense that has looked dangerous through six games.
For fans looking to catch the matchup, here’s the game information: Oregon vs. Nebraska will air on Fox and stream on the Fox Sports app.
The Ducks and Cornhuskers kick off at 8:00 pm PT on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook odds from Friday, Oct. 16, Oregon is favored by just over a touchdown.
The Ducks are -245 on the moneyline, while Nebraska sits at +198. The over/under is 51.5 points.
Oregon’s injury report lists Jeremiah McClellan, QB Dante Moore, DB Aaron Flowers, RB Simeon Price, ILB Brayden Platt and OL Trent Ferguson as out. WR Evan Stewart is questionable.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Changed Oregons Biggest Nebraska Game Storyline
Dylan Raiola had been trending into a more central role for Oregon after his strong showing against USC, but the momentum stalled quickly in the next game against UCLA. Now Dan Lanning has made the call to keep Brock Thomas in the starting job against Nebraska, a move that shifts one of the biggest storylines of the week and changes how the Ducks will approach a matchup with Raiolas former team.
Lanning pointed to Raiolas recent performance and the adjustments Oregon has made on offense as the reasons behind the decision, which gives the Ducks a clearer picture heading into a game that already carried plenty of extra intrigue. For Raiola, the opportunity to face Nebraska will still be there, but it comes with a different role than many expected when the schedule first set up this reunion. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Commit Brayton Feister Is Back On The Field Amid Dispute
Brayton Feister is back on the field at Massillon Washington High School after the Fifth District Court of Appeals ruled that he and his brother Brydon are eligible to play, overturning the Ohio High School Athletic Associations earlier ineligibility decision. The brothers had been sidelined over transfer and disciplinary issues, but the latest ruling granted them a preliminary permanent injunction and cleared the way for them to continue their senior season.
For Oregon, it means one of its commitments is once again taking part in the kind of late-season football that can matter in more than one way, from development to momentum before the next level. The OHSAA still has the option to keep fighting the case, so the legal side of the story is not necessarily finished, but for now Feister is back where he wants to be, and that is on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Rise Has Made This Big Ten Clash Feel Very Different
Curt Cignetti has turned Indiana into something no one around the Big Ten can dismiss anymore. After years of being an easy name to circle on the schedule, the Hoosiers are now coming into the Ohio State matchup undefeated and carrying the kind of rsum that only comes with sustained success, including a conference title and a national championship under Cignettis watch.
The setting for this one feels familiar in one sense and completely different in another. Ohio State and Indiana are meeting as top-five teams for the third straight year, but the old assumptions no longer fit, and even around the program there are differing views on how much last years Big Ten Championship Game should shape the way this rematch is seen. [Read more 🡒]