Raiola steps in for Oregon after Moore leaves on ambulance
The short version
- Dante Moore left Oregon's game vs. No. 12 USC by ambulance after a late hit to the head on a second-quarter slide
- Dylan Raiola replaced him and threw a 3-yard touchdown to Evan Stewart
- Raiola transferred from Nebraska this offseason and committed Jan. 12, before Moore decided to return
- At Nebraska, Raiola threw for 2,819 yards in 2024 and 2,000 yards in nine 2025 games before breaking his fibula
- He was a 5-star recruit, No. 21 overall in the 2024 class per 247Sports Composite, and son of ex-Lions lineman Dominic Raiola
Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola entered Oregon's game at USC after starter Dante Moore was hospitalized following a late hit.
Oregon starting quarterback Dante Moore was forced out of Saturday's game against No. 12 Southern California after absorbing a blow to the head late in the second quarter. The hit came as Moore gave himself up on a slide. He remained down on the turf at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for an extended stretch before being taken away on a cart, loaded into an ambulance and transported from the venue.
Raiola, the Ducks' No. 2 quarterback, handled the last two snaps of that possession, finishing it with a 3-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Evan Stewart. He now takes over an offense run by a starter widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in college football and a projected top-five selection in the 2027 NFL Draft. Moore is also viewed as the clear leader of 16th-ranked Oregon.
The replacement is no stranger to running an offense himself. Raiola spent two seasons as a starter at Nebraska, another Big Ten program, before moving to Eugene over the offseason. He originally signed with the Cornhuskers out of high school.
His path to Oregon began on Jan. 12, when he announced his commitment, a decision made before Moore chose to come back for one more college season. Rather than leave after Moore's return was confirmed, Raiola accepted the backup job.
Raiola's freshman campaign in 2024 saw him hit on 275 of 410 throws, a 67.1% rate, for 2,819 yards with 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Nebraska went 7-6 that year and won the Pinstripe Bowl. The next fall, across nine games, he connected on 181 of 250 attempts, 72.4%, for 2,000 yards, 18 touchdowns and six picks. That season was cut short on Nov. 1, 2025, when he fractured his fibula in a game against USC.
Coming out of high school, Raiola carried 5-star status and ranked as the No. 21 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle according to the 247Sports Composite. He was also tabbed the third-best quarterback in that class. A native of Buford, Georgia, he initially pledged to Georgia and coach Kirby Smart before switching to Nebraska.
The name may sound familiar to NFL followers: his father, Dominic Raiola, played offensive line at Nebraska before going on to a notable career with the Detroit Lions.
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