Reports indicate that Brock Thomas is expected to start Saturday’s game against Nebraska at Autzen Stadium, having taken the majority of first-team practice reps this week. With Dante Moore still recovering from a concussion, Oregon needs someone to steady an offense that has stumbled recently.
This situation could hardly be more challenging for Raiola. Oregon is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play after a 17-15 home loss to UCLA, a game marked by seven turnovers, including five lost fumbles and two interceptions. The defeat also knocked the Ducks out of the AP Top 25, jeopardizing their hopes of contending for a higher-season aim.
In the UCLA game, Raiola contributed three turnovers before being replaced in the fourth quarter. Thomas provided solid relief, going 11 of 15 through the air for 156 yards and a touchdown. His 44-yard touchdown pass to Evan Stewart helped Oregon trim the deficit to two points, though the two-point conversion attempt failed.
There is a hometown angle to Thomas’s story. A senior who attended Sheldon High School in Eugene—the same school that produced former Oregon QB Justin Herbert—Thomas could make his first career start in his hometown, despite a college résumé that hasn’t included many starting opportunities. He joined Oregon as a walk-on in 2023 after receiving scholarship offers from smaller programs.
Thomas has had limited playing time, with 36 career attempts, 15 of them against UCLA. He’s completed 70% of his passes this season, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Yet the coaching staff has shown trust in him in difficult moments, including a notable late-game performance against Wisconsin last year when he entered for Dante Moore and connected on all four of his second-half throws in a 21-7 win. He managed two lengthy drives that helped control the clock and limited turnovers.
Nebraska isn’t an easy opponent either. The Cornhuskers sit at 5-1 after pushing the defending national champion Indiana to the limit in a 20-17 loss. Oregon will also be dealing with the absence of leading receiver Evan Stewart, who is listed as doubtful for the upcoming game.
As for Raiola, the trajectory of his season has been unpredictable. He arrived at Oregon after two seasons at Nebraska, where he threw for 4,819 yards and 31 touchdowns, starting 22 games before transferring. Saturday’s matchup against Nebraska adds a layer of awkwardness to his situation.
Before the UCLA game fallout, Raiola showed promise. Against USC, he completed 76% of his passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns, one of his stronger outings this season. That performance raised questions about the quarterback hierarchy once Dante Moore returned.
However, UCLA exposed Raiola. He completed just six of 19 attempts for 43 yards, with two interceptions, and the turnover issues contributed to what could become a turning point in the team’s quarterback decisions.
Oregon’s coach acknowledged that some of the unfavorable situations Raiola faced were not entirely his fault, but emphasized the importance of ball security. Protecting the football remains a key factor in evaluating the team’s quarterback situation moving forward.
Commentators have weighed in from outside the program as well. A notable former coach recently offered a stark assessment of Oregon’s struggles, citing declines in fundamentals, ball security, and overall effort compared with the program’s traditional standards. The critiques also touched on roster turnover and coordinator changes, suggesting that broader issues might be affecting performance.
For now, Raiola’s prospects for reclaiming the starting job appear uncertain. Oregon’s playoff hopes are narrowly defined, and another setback could deepen the quarterback debate on the sidelines. The team will rely on Thomas, with Raiola serving as a critical, if unsettled, piece of the offense as they navigate the rest of the season.
