Two roads converged in the green and yellow wood over the last 48 hours as Dylan Raiola signed with the Ducks on Monday, then Dante Moore announced Wednesday morning that he's returning to Oregon.
In a related development, the FBS coaches voted unanimously Tuesday to expand the redshirt rule to nine games, pending Executive Committee approval.
It's expected to pass, and when it does, it sets up the Oregon program to have the most stable quarterback situation in the FBS, a Heisman Trophy candidate and first-round draft pick at starter, coupled with a backup with 22 games as a Big Ten starter in Raiola, who completed 72.4 percent of his passes last year for the Cornhuskers, a school record.
Raiola threw for 2000 yards in his sophomore season, with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. Now both quarterbacks are in an ideal situation to develop, while Oregon becomes one of the few schools with a topline starter and an experienced backup, insurance for a playoff run.
The Ducks also have Brock Thomas and Akili Smith Jr., giving them a dogged worker in the No. 3 spot with good discipline and practice habits, coupled with a promising underclassman who is 6-6 with an accurate arm, four quarterbacks with clearly defined roles. That's hard to do in the era of the Transfer Portal.
They're set at QB. Now the program has to solidify the 2026 offensive line. Currently they're in a bidding war for 5-star Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 portal prospect at left tackle.