Oregon’s quarterback situation looks headed toward a familiar next-man-up answer, and all signs point to Dylan Raiola getting the nod Saturday against UCLA while Dante Moore works his way back from a concussion.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel said on College Football Live that Dan Lanning is taking a careful approach with Moore after the hit that sent him to the hospital in an ambulance during Oregon’s win over USC in Los Angeles. Moore has returned to practice, and Thamel made clear that the Ducks are not rushing him back.
“Dan Lanning made very clear that Dante Moore is going to be eased back onto the field,” Thamel said on College Football Live. “He said it was good to see him out there with his helmet on, throwing passes. He did not tip his hand to his status, but the widespread expectation is that Dylan Raiola will get the start for the Ducks.”
That expectation was reinforced Wednesday by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, who also reported that Moore is unlikely to play against UCLA.
For Oregon, the encouraging part is that this is not uncharted territory. Raiola already stepped into the spotlight at USC and handled it well. He entered with the Ducks trailing 7-3 in the second quarter, then helped turn the game into a 41-27 Oregon win by completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ducks have sounded fully comfortable with him, and some players have even pointed to the similarity between Raiola and Moore. UCLA coach Bob Chesney said there "is not a giant drop-off" between the two as the Bruins prepare for whichever quarterback Oregon uses.
Thamel also suggested Raiola could get more than a one-week assignment. He didn’t give a timetable for Moore’s return, but he did leave open the possibility that Raiola’s run could stretch beyond Saturday.
“So look for Raiola, the Nebraska transfer, to come back and have a bit of a run here as Oregon operates, out of an abundance of caution in bringing Dante Moore back from that concussion,” Thamel said.
The situation highlights why Oregon valued adding Raiola through the transfer portal. Lanning has a backup with real starting experience and the kind of pedigree that gives a team confidence when the starter goes down.
Meanwhile, UCLA arrives at Autzen Stadium 4-0 for the first time since 2022, and Chesney has his own familiarity with the Ducks after facing them in the first round of the College Football Playoff in 2025 while coaching James Madison. Still, Oregon has controlled this matchup at home for a long time. UCLA hasn’t won at Autzen since 2004, and the Ducks have taken eight straight home meetings from the Bruins.
For now, the Ducks appear ready to let Moore heal and lean on the quarterback who already answered the call once in a pressure-packed spot.
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