Dante Moore is officially “out” for Saturday’s game against Nebraska, and if you thought things couldn’t get crazier in Eugene, you were wrong. This isn’t just Moore sidelined for his second straight game, this is a full-blown quarterback competition unfolding after a brutal loss that knocked the Ducks out of the AP poll entirely.
The Wheels Are Coming Off, And Lanning Knows It
Man, what a ride. Oregon kicked off the season at No. 2, looking like national title favorites. But after getting smacked with their second loss against UCLA, they’ve slid right out of the rankings, and the offense looked absolutely lost. Coach Dan Lanning wasn’t shy on Monday, admitting that “everything is being evaluated” on offense, from personnel to staff structure. He’s not spilling any secrets before Saturday, but it’s clear the Ducks are in full panic mode trying to fix what’s broken.
Raiola’s Nightmare vs. Thomas’s Near-Heroics
So with Moore still on the shelf, it all comes down to Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas battling it out this week. Remember Raiola? He stepped up and got a win at USC when Moore was out. But against UCLA? Yikes. He had a catastrophic performance, dude, completing just 6 of 19 passes for a pathetic 43 yards, tossing two picks, and losing a fumble. Lanning had to pull him in the second half. That’s when Thomas came in, and he almost pulled off the impossible, throwing for 149 yards and a touchdown, getting them close to tying it on a controversial two-point conversion that just didn’t happen.
Lanning’s trying to protect Raiola a bit, saying some of the situations weren’t “successful opportunities,” and reminding everyone Raiola played well against USC. But when he emphasizes that the No. 1 job for a QB is to “protect the ball,” it sure sounds like Thomas has the edge going into practice this week. Lanning’s even opening up competitions on the offensive line and defensive spots, too. This is not just a QB issue, it’s a team-wide gut check.
The Ducks, once national title darlings, are now labeled college football’s biggest disappointment. This Saturday’s game against Nebraska isn’t just another game; it’s a must-win, plain and simple. Who gets the nod at QB? That decision could literally make or break what’s left of this season. It’s go time, and the pressure is absolutely insane.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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