Dylan Raiola Clutch After Benching, Top Box Score Stats & Highlights from Oregon's Win vs. Nebraska

If someone would have told Nebraska fans a year or two ago that Dylan Raiola would come through in the clutch in the final seconds of an important 2026 conference game, they surely would have been excited.

But reality was much more painful for the Cornhuskers.

Raiola, who played two seasons for Nebraska before transferring to Oregon this past offseason, may have saved the Ducks' season by coming into the fourth quarter of their 17-14 win over the Cornhuskers on Saturday.

Passing
Notable Players	C/ATT	YDS	TD	INT
Dylan Raiola, ORE	11/18	59	1	0
Brock Thomas, ORE	9/20	54	0	1
Anthony Colandrea, NEB	18/33	164	1	1
Rushing
Notable Players	ATT	YDS	TD
Dierre Hill Jr., ORE	14	67	0
Dylan Raiola, ORE	2	8	0
Anthony Colandrea, NEB	13	38	1
Receiving
Notable Players	REC	YDS	TD
Jamari Johnson, ORE	5	35	1
Dakorien Moore, ORE	7	36	0
Kwazi Gilmer, NEB	6	74	1

Oregon is playing without starting quarterback Dante Moore because of a concussion and turned to Brock Thomas to start against Nebraska. However, Thomas struggled throughout the contest as Nebraska built a 14-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Ducks shifted to Raiola for that final quarter after Thomas threw a pick late in the third, and the former Cornhuskers signal-caller directed a 17-play, 69-yard field goal drive on his first possession and a 20-play, 82-yard touchdown drive on his second to win it.

He ended that touchdown drive with a strike to Jamari Johnson in the back of the end zone with 28 seconds remaining.

"Everyone was dialed in," Raiola told reporters when discussing that final drive. "We just kept preparing until the end and JJ had a cute little toe-drag touchdown to win the game."

Nebraska Cornhuskers - Oregon Ducks Highlights

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This isn't the first time Raiola has played hero for Oregon this season. He came into the USC game after Moore's injury and went 19-of-25 for 289 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The job seemed like his to lose until Moore returned, but he responded by turning the ball over three times in a 17-15 loss to UCLA. Oregon benched him for Thomas against the Bruins, and the latter responded well by going 11-of-15 for 156 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.

It just wasn't enough to overcome the 17-6 advantage UCLA built in the fourth quarter.

Thomas got the start Saturday after his performance against the Bruins, but now it seems like Raiola will be back under center until Moore is ready after he won the game against his former team. 

The Ducks have little room for error with two losses already on their resume. A third against Nebraska may have been too much to overcome in the College Football Playoff race, especially with challenging games against Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan remaining on their slate.

But they still have two losses and remain a factor in that race thanks to Raiola's heroics.