​Sep 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola (8) looks to throw a pass against the USC Trojans during the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesDylan Raiola waited three games for a meaningful snap at Oregon. He then got far more responsibility than anyone wanted Saturday night.Starting quarterback Dante Moore left Oregon’s matchup against USC in the second quarter after taking a targeting hit from Desman Stephens II while sliding. Moore was immobilized, taken from the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital. No official diagnosis had been announced by the time the game ended.Raiola stepped in cold and immediately changed the game.Breiden Fehoko Chooses Dylan Raiola Over Dante MooreFormer LSU defensive lineman and 2019 national champion Breiden Fehoko did not hesitate after watching Oregon’s backup finish the job.“Dylan Raiola > Dante Moore,” Fehoko tweeted.Raiola gave Fehoko plenty of ammunition. The former Nebraska starter completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, including a scoring throw to Evan Stewart on his second snap after replacing Moore.Oregon finished with 504 yards and pulled away for a 41-27 road win over No. 12 USC.The comparison had already started bubbling after Raiola’sOregon debut, when he completed all 11 of his passes for 124 yards and three touchdowns in less than two quarters.That came in an 84-0 demolition, though, making it easy to dismiss as mop-up work against an overmatched opponent.USC was a very different test.PREDICT THE CFB SEASON:PFN’s Free CFB Playoff PredictorRaiola entered with Oregon trailing 7-3. He took over in a tense road environment and finished without a turnover. His 29-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter broke a 27-27 tie and gave Oregon the lead for good.Oregon’s Quarterback Conversation Just Got ComplicatedNone of this makes Moore’s injury anything other than the biggest concern coming out of the night.Moore entered Saturday ranked No. 211 in PFN College QB Impact Score with a 79.6 grade through three games. He had thrown for 849 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions before facing USC, and Oregon had built its offense around him.Raiola was supposed to be the insurance policy.Instead, he looked like a quarterback fully capable of running the offense when the Ducks suddenly needed him most.That does not automatically make Fehoko’s one-line verdict correct, and it certainly does not turn Moore’s injury into a quarterback controversy before his medical status is even known.It does, however, change the conversation around Oregon’s depth chart.Dan Lanning spent the offseason talking about Raiola’s “different timeline” after the former Nebraska starter transferred into a room already led by Moore. Saturday showed why Oregon wanted him anyway.The Ducks lost their starter in frightening fashion and still watched their backup throw for 289