Oregon QB Dylan Raiola, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
It’s not often that a college football team loses a potential top-five pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and doesn’t suffer much of a drop-off in production. But that was certainly the case on Saturday when the No. 20 Oregon Ducks handled the No. 12 USC Trojans, 41-27.
Oregon’s star quarterback and a highly regarded NFL prospect, Dante Moore, suffered a frightening and controversy-inducing concussion in the second quarter with his team trailing, 7-3. Moore’s backup, Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola, was thrust into action and delivered.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports & faith connect <<
The junior QB threw for 289 passing yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions) while completing 19 of his 25 passes and helping the Ducks pull away late with two fourth-quarter TDs. It came a week after Raiola’s first appearance with Oregon in an 84-0 drubbing of Portland State, when he came in as relief for Moore and completed all 11 of his pass attempts for 124 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’m huge in my faith, and I just put all my chips into God’s hands,” Raiola said in Saturday’s postgame press conference. “When you do that, that’s the best way because you find peace.
“The ultimate goal is to win. No matter how it happens, no matter — sadly — whoever goes down, the game of football doesn’t feel sorry for us. We’ve got to step up and we’ve got to keep fighting. And those guys in our locker room did just that.”
Raiola is in his first year with the Ducks after two at Nebraska, where he threw for 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. A highly sought-after recruit out of high school, Raiola jumped into the starting role as a true freshman and led the Cornhuskers to a 7-6 record and a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl. As a sophomore last season, he helped his team to a 6-3 record before suffering a season-ending broken leg on Nov. 1 against these same USC Trojans.
“My family, my close circle, knows what this one means to me,” Raiola said in Saturday’s press conference. “Last time I played these dudes, I left with a broken leg. Just so grateful for this (Oregon) program, so grateful for these coaches, and most importantly these players.”
In the aftermath of that injury, Raiola found solace in his Heavenly Father. He made a post on Instagram that included a quote from the Bible verse Isaiah 41:10.
“Thank y’all for your thoughts and prayers!” Raiola’s caption read in part. “God’s vision and plan is so much greater than I can imagine!!”
Just eight days after the injury, Raiola participated in a Revival Night with other Nebraska athletes, similar to events popping up on college campuses across the country. The Revival Night featured athlete testimonies of faith and worship music. Raiola’s Rise Up Foundation organized the event in partnership with Mercy City Church.
“I see it all across the country, people bringing groups of people together to worship the Lord,” Raiola said at the time, via The Daily Nebraskan. “And I was like, ‘Why can’t we do that in Lincoln?'”
He continued later: “Revival is exactly this, bringing everybody together, follower and non-follower, and giving everyone an opportunity to experience the best life. In Nebraska, everyone said it’s the good life, but honestly, the good life is following Jesus.”
He captured the event with another post on Instagram, where he lists Colossians 3:23 and AO1 (audience of One) in his bio.
“What a blessing to see everyone so on fire for the Lord!” Raiola wrote in the post. “Praise God for moving across the entire country!! There’s power in the NAME OF JESUS!”
Raiola entered the transfer portal after the season and committed to Oregon in January. When Moore decided not to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, Raiola knew he’d be the backup this season, a new experience for him in his college career. Yet he stayed ready, and on Saturday, his preparation paid off in a victory. Even more than that, however, God was glorified.
“The reason why I play this game, first of all, is I play for God,” Raiola said in 2022. “My religion is first in everything I do. Without God, I wouldn’t be able to do anything I do now. He’s gifted me with talents and abilities. I think if I don’t use them in the correct way, that’s not honoring God.”
Oregon, now ranked No. 15 in the country, won’t take the field again until it hosts No. 23 UCLA (4-0) on Saturday, Oct. 10. Raiola will be the starter if Moore isn’t cleared, giving him another opportunity to help the Ducks win an important Big 10 matchup and honor God in the process.
>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<
RELATED STORIES:
— Freshman QB Dylan Raiola playing ‘for God’ as he leads Nebraska
— No. 1 QB recruit Dylan Raiola commits to Georgia: ‘I play for God’
— WHAT’S UP PODCAST: Iapani Laloulu, University of Oregon center
— Oregon QB Dante Moore doing everything he can ‘to glorify Him’
— Maryland QB Malik Washington knows ‘God always has your back’
