By Jyesha Nance
Just 329 days after a season-ending injury, Dylan Raiola is back on the football field throwing touchdowns and showing the college world that he’s still surgical on the football field.
The No. 20 Oregon Ducks traveled to California for a Top 20 matchup against Big Ten Conference foe the USC Trojans. With 10 minutes to play in the second quarter and the Ducks looking to take a lead, starting quarterback Dante Moore attempted to pick up yardage by sliding, but he collided helmet-to-shoulder with Trojans defender Desman Stephens and left the game in an ambulance after the frightening scene. He exited with the Ducks trailing 7-3.
After Moore exited, temperatures were high, and the only thing the Ducks wanted was the win. Raiola, who serves as the backup quarterback and has history with the Trojans, entered the game and immediately got busy, throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Evan Stewart on his second snap to take a 10-7 lead.
The Ducks closed the first half with a 13-10 lead and were on track to take command in the second half, which they did. To start the third quarter, Dierre Hill Jr. scored a rushing touchdown to take a 20-10 lead, and that was just the spark the Ducks and Raiola needed.
Raiola led the Ducks to 270 yards and four touchdown drives in the second half, including Dakorien Moore’s go-ahead 29-yard touchdown catch with 8:35 to play and Jordon Davison’s clutch 2-yard run with 2:03 left.
Raiola came off the bench to save the day, but the win was far beyond defeating the Trojans; it was a statement win for Raiola, who had returned to form after breaking his right fibula against the Trojans on Nov. 1, 2025.
Prior to transferring to Oregon on Jan. 12, 2026, Raiola was the starting quarterback for Nebraska for two seasons (2024,2025), where he posted 4, 819 yards and 31 touchdowns. Raiola started as a true freshman, but really took the world by storm in his sophomore season, drawing Heisman votes prior to the season-ending injury.
In the commanding 41-27 victory over the Trojans, Raiola picked up exactly where he left off, proving his recovery was complete and his trajectory remained elite.