Something special;' Dylan Raiola ready to learn from Dante Moore as backup QB

When you begin your college career as a five-star recruit, leading one of the Big Ten's most historic programs, it can be difficult to step back and choose something different.

Yet, that's exactly what Dylan Raiola did.

After two seasons at the helm for Nebraska, which ended with a brutal leg injury, Raiola entered the transfer portal, not to take a starting job, but rather to sit, watch and learn behind Dante Moore with the Oregon Ducks . After all, Moore began his career in a similar way, suiting up for UCLA as a highly-touted recruit before transferring to Oregon and sitting behind Dillon Gabriel .

Now, he's a Heisman candidate, a likely top 5 pick in the next NFL draft, and has the Ducks in serious contention for a national championship. That sounds like a perfect road map back to glory for Raiola.

“Dante offers a lot, not just playing on the football field, but just a guy off the field," Raiola said at Oregon's media day. "I learned a lot from him. The way he handles everything, rightfully so, that he gets, it’s awesome to see his success, and I know he’s going to do great things this year for the Ducks and hopefully we’ll all be a part of something special.”

In 22 starts with the Cornhuskers, Raiola threw for 4,819 yards and 31 touchdowns, while completing 69.1% of his passes, a program record for Nebraska. However, the game was too fast at times for the young and developing quarterback, and Nebraska never rose to the top of the conference as it hoped.

Coming to Oregon from the Midwest, there is a substantial shock in the change of scenery, literally. The Cascade Mountains and a forest of trees set the Eugene skyline. On the football field, blue-chip recruits and elite speed appear to be falling from the trees and landing in Oregon's offense. That's why the Ducks have championship aspirations every season, which Raiola is looking forward to.

The Fighting Ducks answer quickly on a strike from Dylan Raiola to Evan Stewart! #GoDucks x @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/n9FZWI9Oht

— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) April 25, 2026 “There’s not cornfields here. There’s mountains and trees and I love nature," Raiola said. As far as football, it’s different. With coaches and players, we have a lot more talent than we did at Nebraska. I don’t say that to knock on them, but I think everybody will know that. I’m very grateful for my time there. Learned a lot from my coaches, teammates, still have those relationships. But I think that I’m really excited for what Oregon’s going to bring, not only to my life, but for my teammates as well."

Raiola wants to continue not only the trend that Moore started by sitting for a season, but to grow into the next great quarterback for the Ducks through his connection to Hawaii. Raiola, born in Honolulu, grew up a fan of Marcus Mariota and watched him take the Heisman Trophy back to Eugene. He saw Gabriel lead the Ducks to an undefeated regular season and Big Ten championship in 2024.

While it may not be Raiola's turn yet, he's making sure he's ready when his number, appropriately wearing No. 8 in honor of Mariota and Gabriel , is called.

“I’m preparing, knock on wood that nothing happens, but I’m just preparing," Raiola said. "Anything can happen. Obviously (Moore’s) going to hopefully win the Heisman and do all his stuff, but it’d behoove me to not be ready to put myself in a position to be ready this year so next year it’s not, ‘Alright, it’s time to get ready now.’”

Moore spoke about his process coming to Eugene to sit behind Gabriel and their initial conversation that set the tone. Moore wasn't there to push Gabriel out of a job, nor be bitter about sitting on the bench. Rather, it was an opportunity to be a sponge and only grow from the experience.

When Raiola arrived on campus, Moore had a familiar conversation with the Nebraska transfer. Both quarterbacks can lead, but only one will take the snaps on Saturdays in the fall. Fortunately, Raiola has taken the change in stride and made great progress in the spring, now fully healthy.

"He just came in, we talked, and he's been pushing me on the field," Moore said. "If it's certain throws, if it's certain things we're doing in the weight room, certain whatever, he's been doing a great job. His weight, his speed, his attention to our playbook's been great. So at the end of the day, we've been pushing ourselves and making sure that we all want to get to that same goal and make sure we all attack it."

Earning the respect of Moore is a vote of confidence for Raiola. He's on the right track, and he's helping the Ducks become better than they already were.

“It means a lot. We don't really talk about pushing each other," Raiola said. "It's kind of just like, alright, when you come to work every day, just understanding that this is what we need to get done today, and that's the standard. And not only just the room, but the whole football team knows that nothing's guaranteed, and you have to work and earn for it. So it's cool to hear that from him.”

As the Ducks get set to begin fall camp on Wednesday, there is no controversy in the quarterback room. Loaded with talent and armed with knowledge, the roles are well defined. Moore will chase a championship, and Raiola will push him to get there, while picking up the crumbs left behind to build his own legacy at Oregon in the future.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 'Something special;' Dylan Raiola ready to learn from Dante Moore as backup QB

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