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Oregon is apparently sticking with Dylan Raiola for Saturday afternoon’s home showdown against No. 20 Northwestern.
When the struggling, unranked Ducks kick it off with the surging Wildcats at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, it’ll be Raiola behind center for the second straight game, according to a report on Friday afternoon by CBS Sports insider Matt Zenitz.
“Oregon is expected to start Dylan Riola at quarterback tomorrow against No. 20 Northwestern, sources tell CBS Sports,” Zenitz wrote on his social media account.
Raiola, the Nebraska transfer who bolted for Oregon with the expectation of being the Ducks’ backup QB to Dante Moore, has been thrust into starting duty and more playing time overall after Moore suffered a concussion against USC way back in Week 4.
After coming off the bench to lead Oregon to a riveting victory that night in Los Angeles, it’s been an up-and-down season for Raiola, who didn’t perform well overall after getting the start in last week’s shocking loss at Illinois.
The Raiola-led Ducks only managed 10 points, all of them in the first half, in a loss to the Fighting Illini that dropped Oregon to 4-3 on the season and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The Ducks were thought of as a national title contender when the season began, with Moore at the helm, but things have changed dramatically in Eugene before October even ends.
And now, on the final day of October, it’ll be Raiola once again leading Oregon as the Ducks try to slow down Northwestern (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) in a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Peacock.
According to Zenitz’s report, Raiola is getting the nod over Brock Thomas in Week 9 despite what happened in Week 8 at Illinois.
“Struggled at times during the Ducks’ 21-10 loss to Illinois last week but Oregon is expected to start him for a second straight game,” Zenitz wrote in his social media post.
Raiola has had his moments this season, highlighted by that incredible performance in relief of Moore at USC back in late September, but his season QBR sits at a dismal 52.3.
In 5 games this season as both a starter and a backup, Raiola is completing 64.9% of his passes while throwing for 761 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Despite the roller-coaster ride he and Oregon have been on this season, Raiola is apparently getting another shot on Saturday to prove his worth as a starting quarterback in the Big Ten.