Oregon heads into its Oct. 17 showdown with Nebraska carrying more questions than answers after a 17-15 loss to UCLA exposed just how shaky things look without Dante Moore.
The Ducks, now unranked at 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, had already made one dramatic quarterback move in the UCLA game, with coach Dan Lanning benching junior quarterback Dylan Raiola for senior walk-on Brock Thomas at the start of the fourth quarter on Oct. 10. That change only underscored how much Oregon has missed Moore, the redshirt senior quarterback who is looking to move off concussion protocol.
Now the Ducks return to Autzen Stadium for another high-profile conference test, this time against Matt Rhule’s Nebraska team. The Cornhuskers come in at 5-1 and 2-1 in the Big Ten after letting a late lead slip away in a 20-17 home loss to newly ranked No. 5 Indiana.
FanDuel lists Oregon as a 7.5-point favorite. The Ducks are -300 on the moneyline, while Nebraska sits at +240. The over/under is 52.5.
Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. PT on Oct. 17, with the game airing on FOX.
The matchup also carries a quarterback wrinkle. Raiola, a former member of Nebraska’s 2024 and 2025 teams, could potentially make a second straight start for Oregon against his old school if Moore is not fully cleared.
If Moore can’t go, Thomas could be in line for his first career start with the Ducks. There’s also the possibility of an offensive play-caller change after first-year offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer’s unit managed only 272 total yards against UCLA.
Oregon’s offensive problems were hard to miss in that loss. The Ducks turned it over seven times, matching their most in a game since their 30-24 loss to Indiana in 2004. Raiola had a rough night against coach Bob Chesney’s defense, finishing 6-of-19 for 43 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble.
The Ducks also couldn’t stay on schedule. They went just 1-for-12 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth down, giving UCLA extra chances to lean on its backfield trio of fifth-year Wayne Knight, fifth-year Anthony Woods and senior Jaivian Thomas. That group combined for 150 rushing yards and one touchdown on 35 carries.
The loss only added more sting because it was Oregon’s second home defeat under Lanning, dating back to 2022. It also came with a Big Ten statement on Oct. 12 saying Oregon’s second failed two-point attempt against UCLA, late in the fourth quarter, should have been snapped from the half-yard line instead of the 1.5-yard line.
There was also criticism around the suspension of Oregon fifth-year defensive lineman Bear Alexander after he tried to punch the ball out of senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s hands late in the first half and hit his head with a full swing.
Nebraska and Oregon last met in 2017, when the Ducks won 42-35 in Eugene. The Cornhuskers, though, still hold the all-time edge in the series, 6-2, dating back to 1952.
In Other News...
UCLAs Oregon Breakthrough Just Turned Into A Brutal New Reality
UCLAs promising stretch against Oregon came with a cost that is now reshaping the rest of the season. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava went down with a knee injury in that game, leaving the Bruins to adjust on the fly at the most important position on the field as the schedule turns more demanding.
The expectation now is that Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach will step into the starting role, a major shift for a team trying to keep its footing through a tough run ahead. With the passing game suddenly in transition, UCLA will lean more heavily on running back Wayne Knight and a defense that will need to keep the Bruins in games while the offense finds its new rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Suddenly Has A New Offensive Question After Stunning Oregon Win
UCLAs stunning 17-15 win over Oregon in Eugene gave the Bruins a rare road breakthrough and a result they can hang onto for a long time, but it also came with a fresh offensive wrinkle. The passing game never really found traction, and with the quarterback room forced into an in-game adjustment, Ty Dieffenbach had to navigate the second half in difficult circumstances while the defense and special teams helped carry the night.
The bruins will celebrate the first win in Eugene since 2004, but the bigger question now is how the offense sorts itself out from here. Morgan looked like the most dependable option in the air attack, yet the bigger swing plays belonged on defense, where Scooter Jackson and TaShawn James helped flip field position and momentum, leaving UCLA with a victory and one more issue to untangle heading into the next week. [Read more 🡒]
Nico Iamaleava Hit Has UCLA Fans Angry For Another Reason
A late-game hit on Nico Iamaleava has kept UCLA talking long after the whistle, and not just because the quarterback was dealing with a knee injury. What drew the most frustration was the sequence itself, with no flag thrown even as the Bruins watched the play unfold and wondered how it was missed in real time.
The aftermath has only sharpened the debate around Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexanders role in the tackle. UCLA coach Bob Chesney raised concerns about the missed call and Iamaleavas health, while Dan Lanning said Alexanders late punch was not meant to cause harm, leaving Bruins fans irritated by the play and the absence of any discipline to follow. [Read more 🡒]