Oregon’s season took a hard turn on Saturday night, and now the Ducks are leaning on the backup they hoped they’d never need.
Dante Moore’s return for another year had given Dan Lanning’s program exactly what it wanted: a legitimate shot to chase a National Championship without having to scramble for a new starting quarterback. Oregon still added insurance, though, and that move suddenly looks huge.
Dylan Raiola came in with the idea of developing behind Moore, with real playing time only likely in an emergency. That emergency showed up in the second quarter against USC.
Moore took a brutal hit on a play the source described as a “disgusting play” by USC defensive back Desman Stephens II. He was placed on a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance, and taken to LA General Hospital.
From here, Raiola becomes the center of everything Oregon wants to do.
Losing a quarterback with Moore’s profile would usually knock a team off course. The Ducks are almost certainly not the same without him, and they’ll feel the loss if he’s out for any length of time. But Oregon’s decision to bring in an experienced starter gives this situation a different feel than the typical season-ending backup story.
Raiola arrives with two years of starting experience and the pedigree of a former 5-star recruit. He’s shown flashes, even if consistency has been an issue.
The important part for Oregon is that he doesn’t have to carry the offense alone. Dan Lanning’s roster still gives him plenty to work with, and the job now is less about forcing big plays and more about running the offense cleanly.
That was on display in the first half. Raiola completed 6 of 8 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, and he also hit Jamari Johnson on a deep ball that was later erased by a holding penalty. He didn’t look overwhelmed by the moment, and he helped push Oregon into halftime with the lead.
How long Moore is sidelined remains unknown. For now, though, Raiola is the one holding the keys to Oregon’s season.
In Other News...
Former Huskies Linebacker Now Has A Chance To Haunt Washington
Deven Bryant spent last season as a key piece of Washingtons defense, logging 12 games and starting 10 of them while finishing with 62 total tackles in 2025. Now the former Huskies linebacker has moved on to USC, setting up the kind of transfer-portal storyline that always lingers a little longer when a player ends up on the other side of a rivalry.
Washingtons linebacker room became crowded enough that Bryant no longer projected as a starter, and the change opened the door for a fresh opportunity elsewhere. Head coach Kyle Whittingham confirmed Bryants decision and praised him, with Bryant making it clear he wanted a chance to start, so the Huskies will now have to prepare for a familiar face in a different jersey. [Read more 🡒]
USC Must Rework Its Linebackers At The Worst Possible Time
USCs linebacker room is suddenly in a tougher spot after the Trojans had to absorb the fallout from a recent game that also forced coach Lincoln Riley to revisit how he wants that unit arranged. Riley, speaking Sept. 28 on Trojans Live, said the group will need to be reworked and that the staff is looking closely at both the depth chart and the way key moments were handled against Oregon.
The timing is less than ideal because the Trojans are trying to steady their defense while also sorting through who fits where next. Riley stressed the importance of depth and better execution in the games ahead, and the coming week will give USC a chance to sort out different linebacker combinations before deciding on a more permanent answer. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Just Lost A Receiver It Could Struggle To Replace
Christian Moss had worked his way into a starting role after transferring from Kennesaw State, giving Washington a veteran presence at receiver just as the Huskies were trying to stabilize an offense already dealing with a rash of injuries. Instead, the sixth-year wideout is now out after quad surgery, leaving a unit that has already absorbed multiple blows, including several running backs lost for the season.
For Washington, the loss stings because Moss had become the kind of experienced target that can help ease pressure on a young offense and settle things down in key moments. There is at least some hope he could return later in the season, but with NCAA eligibility rules tightening the path to an extra year, the Huskies may be looking at this as more than a temporary setback. [Read more 🡒]