After Dylan Raiola's first two outings for his new team in Oregon and Dante Moore's ugly injury a few weeks back, it looked like Nebraska's October 17 showdown against the Ducks would involve a reunion with its starting quarterback from the last two seasons. Then Raiola's outing against UCLA happened.
It's hard to know exactly what happened to Dylan Raiola on Saturday against UCLA. While he's often fallen short against top talent, he's never really played as poorly as he did against the Bruins. He played so poorly, in fact, that he was benched late in the 17-15 loss, making a start next week against his old teammates anything but a sure thing.
Raiola started well, completing his first three passes and helping Oregon take a 6-3 lead. However, he then missed his next seven passes and never recovered in a defensive slugfest many expected to be an offensive shootout. Raiola finished the day completing just 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards. He also threw 2 interceptions and fumbled in a strip-sack, accounting for half of Oregon's 6 turnovers.
In his place, Oregon brought in Brock Thomas, who played well enough that it seems likely he'll be the starter for the Ducks next week against Nebraska if Dante Moore isn't fully recovered from the concussion he suffered against USC.
Brock Thomas threatens Dylan Raiola’s starting role before Oregon faces Nebraska football
Thomas completed 11 of 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown that could have tied the game if Oregon had converted either of its two two-point attempts. On their first attempt, they tried to run Thomas into the end zone, but he was stopped short. However, UCLA was called for a facemask, and the Ducks got another chance. They went to running back Jordan Davison for their do-over, and he was stuffed as well.
Still, Thomas nearly rallying Oregon to overtime at least should give him the leg up over a Raiola who looked rattled and off kilter all day. It's hard to know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing for Nebraska.
On the one hand, the last thing anyone in Lincoln wants is to watch their former quarterback light up the scoreboard and rack up a big win over the Huskers. On the other hand, Thomas is a senior who has spent all four years of his college career so far learning the Ducks' offense and establishing rapport with his teammates.
Nebraska also knows every weakness Raiola has and should certainly know how to attack him. Add in the added boost of wanting to take down the quarterback who said his new team was obviously better than his old one this offseason, and the Blackshirts might feel extra incentive to pin their ears back and attack, attack, and attack again.
As if there wasn't enough at stake in Nebraska's next game following a close, heartbreaking loss to the defending national champion, now there's a little extra drama thrown into the mix.
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