The Oregon Ducks are reportedly benching quarterback Dylan Raiola in favor of Brock Thomas for Saturday’s late-night matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium, following Raiola’s struggles in last week’s loss to UCLA.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning enters Saturday night’s contest facing an unexpected quarterback shuffle as the 3-2 Ducks host the 5-1 Cornhuskers at 11 p.m. ET on Fox. The offensive reordering comes after Raiola stumbled during a 17-15 home defeat to UCLA on October 10. The quarterback, who spent his first two collegiate seasons at Nebraska before transferring to Oregon in January, completed just six of 19 pass attempts for 43 yards and two interceptions against the Bruins.
Lanning declined to detail his complete offensive plan during his weekly media availability. There’s going to be some changes, some differences in the way that we operate and what we do, and there already is, the way we’ve operated this week,
Lanning told reporters, adding that he would not share that with [the media]
regarding the specifics of how the team will look on the field.
Brock Thomas Steps In While Dante Moore Recovers From Concussion
The Ducks turned to Thomas in the fourth quarter against UCLA after Raiola’s struggles mounted. Thomas steadied the offense by finishing 11-for-15 for 156 yards and a touchdown, nearly erasing the deficit before time ran out. Both quarterbacks have seen playing time this season due to the absence of Dante Moore, who suffered a concussion during last month’s win over USC.
Time to Brock and roll.Eugene native Brock Thomas is expected to get his first Oregon start tonight against Nebraska.The bigger story behind the former walk-on’s opportunity:#GoDucks https://t.co/rgcMIUSUgj
While Moore has cleared concussion protocol and returned to practice in pads, Lanning confirmed he will miss the Nebraska game. The Ducks average 41.0 points per game overall, but that scoring output dipped significantly in their two losses, where they managed 27 points against USC and just 15 against UCLA.
Nebraska Brings a Veteran Roster and High Stakes to Autzen Stadium
For Nebraska, Saturday’s kickoff represents both a pivotal Big Ten clash and a personal reunion. The Cornhuskers arrive in Eugene with a 5-1 record under head coach Matt Rhule, relying heavily on a veteran roster built through retention and the transfer portal. Of the 115 players on Nebraska’s preseason roster, 83 entered the season with at least three years of college football experience.
That veteran presence contrasts with Oregon’s roster construction, which features younger contributors such as running back Jordon Davison. Nebraska enters the contest looking to bounce back from a narrow 20-17 loss to Indiana on October 10—a game that snapped a five-game winning streak to start the year.
Husker fans have traveled for the late-night showdown, with direct American Airlines flights carrying supporters to Eugene for weekend trips. Supporters interviewed ahead of kickoff made no secret of their feelings regarding facing their former quarterback.
I hate Dylan Raiola. He probably won’t start because of his last game at UCLA. You know, he was throwing meatball subs all game, so hopefully he does it to us as well.
Connor Kirchner, UNL junior, via KETV
Offensive Metrics and Betting Lines Highlight the Challenge Ahead
Bookmakers list Oregon as 7.5-point favorites with an over/under total of 52.5 points. The Ducks carry a -304 moneyline, while the Cornhuskers sit at +239. Nebraska’s offense depends heavily on UNLV transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who has thrown for 1,406 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions while absorbing 10 sacks across six games.
Oregon has registered nine sacks and eight interceptions through five games, presenting a stiff test for a Nebraska front that has also yielded 36 tackles for loss this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET.
