Dylan Raiola Bounces Back to Lead Oregon Past Nebraska

A tough start at Autzen Stadium

Oregon struggled early against Nebraska. Brock Thomas started at quarterback over Dylan Raiola. Raiola had been benched the previous week after turning the ball over three times in a loss to UCLA.

The offense stalled early with Thomas under center. Oregon produced seven punts and a fumble to start the game, managing only two field goals in the third quarter. Home fans booed the poor offensive output in the first half, and many left the stadium at halftime. Head coach Dan Lanning admitted later that the fans had every right to boo the performance.

Raiola steps in for late comeback

Trailing by eight points entering the fourth quarter, Lanning turned back to Raiola to find a spark against his former team. Raiola answered the call. He revived the offense by moving the ball with both his arm and his legs.

Raiola finished 11 of 18 passing for 59 yards. He led a drive that ended in a field goal, cutting the Nebraska lead to 14-9 with 7:18 remaining in the game. On the final drive, Raiola pushed the team forward again and threw a four yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson with 28 seconds left. That score gave Oregon a 17-14 victory. Lanning described the outcome as a gritty and ugly win.

Shuffling the lineup to stay alive

The victory pushed Oregon to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. The Ducks began the year ranked second in the nation, but the offense has struggled to find consistency. Lanning noted that injuries have forced adjustments, with players like Jeremiah McClellan, Evan Stewart, and Dante Moore missing the contest.

Raiola said he came into the week focused on competing rather than pouting after his benching. His late heroics helped Oregon avoid back to back losses and kept their season on track.

What it means for the next game

Oregon Ducks at Illinois Fighting Illini (College Football, Sat, 24 Oct): Illinois Fighting Illini win 51%, Oregon Ducks win 49%; projected score Illinois Fighting Illini 28, Oregon Ducks 26. Our safest pick: Under 64.5 points.