After two seasons in Lincoln, Nebraska, Dylan Raiola is on the move.
The former five-star talent and Patrick Mahomes acolyte announced his intention to transfer from Nebraska on Dec. 15. One month later, he found his next home: Oregon.
Raiola will join a Ducks side teeming with talent on both ends of the field. Despite a blowout loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff, Dan Lanning's side figures to be one of the country's best in 2026.
But who will start under center come Oregon's first game? Raiola is a marquee name, but so is Dante Moore, the man who shined for the Ducks in 2025 and projects to be a top-five pick in this year's NFL draft.
Moore, 20, hasn't announced whether he plans to declare, with his decision viewed as a toss-up. That has many wondering just why Raiola opted to put his name in the mix of such an uncertain situation.
So, why did Raiola commit to Oregon? And what does his transfer do for the Ducks' QB depth chart in 2026 and beyond? Here's what you need to know.
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Why did Dylan Raiola transfer to Oregon?
Raiola found moderate success during his time with the Cornhuskers. But after two seasons of fairly uncompetitive play, he finally gets the chance to perform on the big stage with Oregon. The Ducks have been one of college football's best sides throughout Dan Lanning's tenure. Raiola stands to develop nicely on Eugene's shores as he'll play with better talent in widely-publicized games that figure to boost his stock, both as a collegiate talent and NFL prospect.
Transfers bring about adjustments for player and program alike. But Raiola has seen the best that the Big Ten has had to offer over the years. He isn't seeing defenses he hasn't faced before, a dynamic which should allow him to better bed into Oregon's ranks.
Raiola might not be the starter out of the gate. However, his talent should allow him to compete for the crown as the season wears on. Furthermore, the Ducks have offered a platform for hurlers to develop under Lanning — both Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel were draft picks, while Moore is expected to hear his name called within the first few selections of the 2026 NFL draft.
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Oregon QB depth chart 2026
Here's a look at how the Ducks' QB depth chart shapes up as of Monday, Jan. 12.
| Rank | Name |
| 1. | Dante Moore |
| 2. | Dylan Raiola |
| 3. | Brock Thomas |
| 4. | Luke Moga |
Moore hasn't yet confirmed whether he will depart for the NFL. However, his first-round billing would appear to suggest a departure could be in the cards.
In the event that he does stay with the Ducks for an additional season, Raiola has already indicated that he is willing to ride the pine for a season in Eugene. Moore found himself in a similar position when he transferred to Oregon following his freshman season at UCLA, opting to watch on from the sidelines as Dillon Gabriel finished his collegiate career. Raiola will be 21 years old at the start of the 2026 season. With at least two years of eligibility left on his collegiate ticker, Raiola has some wiggle room at his disposal should Moore make a U-turn.
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Is Dante Moore going to NFL?
As of Monday, Jan. 12, Moore hasn't indicated whether he will declare for the 2026 draft. He told reporters that he was still mulling his decision over following the Ducks' loss to Indiana on Jan. 9. CBS Sports' Chris Hummer reported that Moore is "50-50" on his future.
Lanning's side figures to benefit regardless of which way Moore leans. It already has done the work of landing a starting-level talent in Raiola, whose height, arm talent and improving efficiency could make him an appealing candidate to take the reins of Oregon's attack in 2026. Lanning has sought the services of mobile passers since he took over the Ducks, with Moore, Gabriel and Bo Nix all shining at Autzen Stadium. Raiola is a different profile — he brings a hulking frame and howitzer-like arm to Eugene, a stark contrast from his predecessors. That might serve him well with Oregon, which will employ a new offensive coordinator in 2026 after Will Stein left for Kentucky.
The deadline for college players to announce their decision to declare is Wednesday, Jan. 14. We'll know about Moore's future plans by then.
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