One week after being benched for three turnovers against UCLA, Dylan Raiola returned to lead Oregon to a 17-14 victory over Nebraska, his former team. After watching Brock Thomas struggle with seven punts and a fumble early, Raiola entered in the fourth quarter with Oregon trailing by eight. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 59 yards, sparked the run game, and orchestrated a field goal drive to cut the deficit to 14-9.
With 28 seconds left, he threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson to secure the win. Coach Dan Lanning praised Raiola’s engagement and readiness, calling the win 'gritty and ugly' but vital. Raiola acknowledged the emotional weight of facing his former team but emphasized the game was about Oregon getting back on track.
The victory kept Oregon’s slim playoff hopes alive at 4-2, 2-1 in the Big Ten, despite offensive inconsistencies all season. Raiola said he refused to pout after his benching and chose to compete, owing it to his teammates and fans to keep fighting.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing