Oregon just nabbed a huge win against the USC Trojans, pushing their record to three wins and adding a massive resume-builder to the season. But listen, the biggest story from that game, and maybe the whole darn weekend, was backup quarterback Dylan Raiola.
Transfers Go OFF for the Ducks in Massive Win
Raiola had to step in during the first half after Dante Moore got hurt. And what did he do? Dropped a touchdown pass right away! The Nebraska transfer finished with a whopping 289 passing yards and two scores. Talk about being ready when your number is called. This guy was absolutely clutch for the Ducks.
He wasn’t the only transfer making noise against USC, either. Tight end Jamari Johnson went off with career-highs, hauling in seven catches for 119 yards. Wide receiver Evan Stewart added seven catches for 56 yards and a touchdown of his own. And just to seal the deal, safety Koi Perich snagged his first interception as a Duck to finish the game. These transfers aren’t just depth, they’re straight-up playmakers right now.
Former Ducks Making Waves All Over the Nation
It wasn’t just Oregon’s new guys tearing it up, though. Former Ducks are out there balling for other programs. Safety Kingston Lopa for the California Golden Bears had another monster game, tying for a game-high 11 tackles, with seven solo. This dude has 29 tackles, five picks, and a pick-six in only four games since leaving Oregon. What a breakout!
California’s linebacker Kamar Mothudi even put points on the board against Clemson, recovering a fumble for a touchdown and adding six tackles. Over in Missouri, cornerback Sione Laulea is turning into a lockdown guy, racking up eight tackles against Mississippi State and now boasts 17 tackles, fifth on his team, and an interception for the season.
Even in losses, these former Ducks are making their mark. Houston Cougars running back Makhi Hughes consistently churned out 70 yards on 16 carries against Georgia Southern, plus a 14-yard catch in a big victory. And linebacker Keith Brown’s final season at Washington State is his best yet, with eight tackles against Arizona, putting him at 24 tackles in four games, just two shy of his career-high for an entire season. Talk about saving the best for last! Defensive lineman Jericho Johnson also had five tackles and a tackle for loss for California, showing he’s carved out a consistent role along the defensive line.
This Week 4 action showed us exactly how much talent is moving through the college football landscape, and it’s clear that both the Ducks’ new blood and their former stars are making major impacts. It’s going to be wild to see if these guys keep up this pace. Every game is a chance to prove themselves, and right now, they’re all passing with flying colors.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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