Oregon’s meeting with Nebraska on Saturday night will arrive under the lights, and late. The Ducks and Cornhuskers are set for an 8 PM PT kickoff at Autzen Stadium, with FOX carrying the game, according to a tweet from the University of Oregon after Saturday’s slate wrapped up.
It’s a showcase slot, but the timing also fits the pressure around both teams. Oregon comes in at 3-2 overall and 2-2 against FBS opponents after a two-point loss to UCLA last weekend in one of the worst offensive performances in the Oregon modern football era. Nebraska, meanwhile, took its first loss of the season in a tight game against Top 10 Indiana.
For Oregon, the margin for error is suddenly razor thin. The Ducks reportedly spent close to $50 million on this year’s roster, which includes multiple NFL players on both sides of the ball, but the playoff path is looking shaky now. Another loss would make the road even harder, and head coach Dan Lanning didn’t sugarcoat where things stand after the UCLA defeat.
"We're fighting an uphill battle now. Again, you can't look 10 weeks ahead," said Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning after the UCLA loss. "You have to look at what's in front of us right now.
"We don't control our destiny anymore. It's not necessarily just up to us, but we do control how we respond."
There’s also a subplot that gives Saturday night an extra edge: backup quarterback and former Nebraska starter Dylan Raiola could be in the spotlight against his old team. Raiola struggled badly against UCLA, going 6-for-19 for 43 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble before being benched in the fourth quarter for third-string quarterback Brock Thomas.
Lanning pointed to the contrast in Raiola’s recent outings, especially compared with his performance at USC.
"Anytime you're holding onto the ball and you're not able to get rid of it on your first look, I think two weeks ago we were able to get to our first decision quite a bit. There were some times when he was able to evade the pass rush and create successful plays. We weren't able to create that today," said Lanning about the stark contrast between Raiola's performance at USC and against UCLA.
"But again, when you have third-and-long situations and you're not successful running the ball on early downs, it puts you a little bit behind the chains. We'll have to evaluate what it looked like. Obviously, it wasn't good enough."
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Put Dylan Raiola Back In Nebraskas Spotlight
After Oregons loss to UCLA, Dan Lanning spent part of his postgame discussion addressing the quarterback situation that has suddenly become one of the bigger storylines around the Ducks. With Dante Moore still dealing with a concussion, Lanning said Dylan Raiola will be in the mix with Brock Thomas for the starting job, and he also pointed to Raiolas composure after being pulled from the game as a sign of how the freshman handled a difficult afternoon.
Lannings comments went beyond the quarterback room, too, as he emphasized that the Ducks still showed positive body language even while the offense struggled. He also said there will be changes in team operations, though he stopped short of explaining what those adjustments will look like, leaving Oregon with one more layer of uncertainty as it tries to steady things coming out of the loss. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Heads Into Pivotal Nebraska Test With One Huge Problem
The build-up to Nebraskas visit to Autzen has plenty of the usual Big Ten shine, but Oregons biggest concern is much more basic: who will take the first snap at quarterback. The Ducks are working through a murky situation with three possible starters still tied to concussion protocol clearance, leaving Dan Lannings team to sort out its most important position just as a high-stakes conference game arrives.
Nebraska, meanwhile, is bringing a resume that demands attention. Matt Rhules team has played well enough to make this trip matter, and senior transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea gives the Cornhuskers another layer of confidence on offense. Add in a defense that ranks third in sacks in the conference, and Oregons uncertainty under center starts to look like more than a simple pregame storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Turned A Huge Quarterback Battle Against Oregon
Oregons quarterback picture has been complicated lately, and not just because of the loss to UCLA. The Ducks are also dealing with the ripple effects of former offensive coordinator Will Stein leaving for the head coaching job at Kentucky, a move that has already changed the recruiting conversation around one of the programs most important positions. For a team that has long sold quarterback development as part of its identity, keeping that edge matters in a hurry.
Josiah Boyd has emerged as one of the names to watch in that battle, and Kentuckys early momentum under Stein is giving the Wildcats real traction. The four-star quarterback recruit is reportedly impressed by what Stein has done in Lexington and is considering Kentucky as a serious option over Oregon, a reminder that coaching changes can hit the Ducks where they least want it - on the recruiting trail. [Read more 🡒]