Dylan Raiola is currently expected to serve as the backup to Dante Moore at Oregon during the 2026 season. After he previously starred as Nebraska’s starting quarterback, his decision to take on a backup role at Oregon surprised many, though a fresh start may have been exactly what he needed to get back on track.
How Dylan Raiola Can Step Up in the Quarterback Competition Against Dante Moore
In Sunday’s episode of the “Adapt & Respond” podcast, host R.J. Young shared his thoughts on Raiola’s transfer to Oregon. He described it as a huge opportunity for the quarterback to completely reshape the direction of his college football career.
“So now you get to a place where Raiola gets an opportunity to have a second act and have the kind of glow that Hendon Hooker enjoyed at Tennessee and that Bo Nix enjoyed at Auburn,” Young said. “The only thing that I think could mess this up is just Dante Moore not being good or Dante Moore getting hurt.”
Raiola’s departure from Nebraska was especially significant because of the deep connection he and his family had to the program. His father earned All-American honors at Nebraska, his uncle previously coached on the staff, and even his brother had committed to the Cornhuskers at one point.
Raiola had flashes of promise during his time there, but Nebraska’s offense never fully developed into a dangerous passing attack. The team relied heavily on its running game, while he lacked the high-end wide receiver talent needed to elevate the offense and consistently handle the pressure surrounding him.
Raiola’s time at Nebraska ultimately collapsed in just over a month, triggered by breaking his leg, his uncle getting fired as the offensive line coach, and his brother decommitting. Reports also surfaced about tension surrounding his reported annual NIL negotiations worth $3.5 million.
Young said Nebraska may have started questioning whether such a large financial investment made sense given the roster limitations around the quarterback and the team’s inability to properly support him offensively.
As Raiola is now at Oregon, he knows the Ducks have high expectations for 2026 after being eliminated in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff by Indiana. A major reason for the optimism surrounding Oregon is the return of Moore, who had the option to enter the 2026 NFL Draft and likely would have been considered one of the top quarterback prospects available.
Moore finished last season as the No. 22 quarterback in the nation in the PFSN CFB QB Metric, while Raiola finished in the No. 90 spot. Raiola’s season was hampered by injuries, but he looks promising heading into his debut season in Eugene in 2026.
While some are already excited to see Raiola in action in 2026, Young believes the best path forward would actually involve patience.
“I genuinely believe Dylan Raiola needs to sit there for a year, learn about Oregon, learn about how it works, get that spotlight off of him, develop his game, and then come out 2027 looking like a monster,” Young said. “That is something I think he is definitely capable of.”
Oregon will begin its season on Sept. 5 at home against Boise State.
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