Dylan Raiola Reveals Reason Behind Controversial Decision to Sign With Oregon

When former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola committed to the Oregon Ducks out of the transfer portal even after 2025 starter Dante Moore announced he was coming back next season, he ruffled some feathers.

Many questioned why the Nebraska transfer would voluntarily sit for a year after spending two seasons as a starter for the Cornhuskers, seemingly hitting pause on his NFL prospects and career development.

But others believe Raiola made the smart move: transfer to a perennial national championship contender, give himself a year to learn the system without the pressure of starting immediately, and set himself up for a successful 2027 campaign and possibly solidify himself as a top-10 pick in the 2028 NFL draft.

Either way, Raiola knows his path may be unconventional - and he's OK with that.

"Obviously, you've got to humble yourself," Raiola told reporters this week. "I'd be lying if I said that it didn't take a couple of practices to get used to [being the backup], but at the same time, it's all learning and it's all trying to eventually achieve a goal of mine [making it to the NFL] - and obviously of Dante's right now - and that's our whole room's goal to get Dante to where he wants to go. [He's] a great person to learn from."

Had Moore entered the 2026 NFL draft, many scouts and analysts believe he would've been the No. 1 or 2 overall pick. The problem is, there was no way to guarantee he'd end up in Las Vegas with the Raiders - considered the better situation than if he'd went second overall to the New York Jets.

It's not been publicly stated, but it's believed Moore would rather one more year of development at Oregon where he could chase a national title than to go to New York and have his development sabotaged by a poorly run team with a second-year head coach.

Raiola, on the other hand, took a massive amount of pressure off his shoulders by leaving Nebraska.

He was the No. 7 overall recruit and No. 2-ranked QB in the class of 2024 behind former Florida Gators QB DJ Lagway, and with that, came the sky-high expectations he would turn the Cornhuskers program around.

However, Nebraska has gone just 14-12 in the two seasons Raiola was the starter, but many point the finger more at head coach Matt Rhule than Raiola, who didn't have the strongest supporting cast around him.

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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 8:14 PM.