Oregon reportedly makes starting QB decision ahead of Illinois game

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Oregon reportedly makes starting QB decision ahead of Illinois game

By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Oct 22, 2026 4:19 PM ET

The Oregon Ducks survived with a 17-14 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their last game.

Oregon scored zero first-half points, and starting quarterback Dylan Raiola was benched after struggling. Brock Thomas didn't play much better, going 9-of-20 for 54 yards and an interception, which forced Dan Lanning to put Raiola back in against his former team.

Raiola led Oregon to score 11 points, including a game-winning touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Dylan Raiola expected to start for Oregon

Still, the Oregon QB situation was up in the air this week ahead of the game against Illinois, but reports surfaced on Thursday that Oregon is expected to go with Raiola.

NEW: Oregon QB Dylan Raiola is expected to start against Illinois on Saturday, @PeteNakos reports.https://t.co/5uy60U0MC5 pic.twitter.com/tte0q5LuIC
— On3 (@On3) October 22, 2026

The report was officially confirmed by On3's Pete Nakos on Thursday. Nakos reported on Wednesday that all of Thomas, Raiola and Akili Smith Jr. were taking reps at QB during practice, but it will be Raiola getting the nod again.

Raiola finished the game going just 11-of-18 for 59 yards, but the only touchdown came in the crunch time to give the Ducks their fourth win of the season.

Dylan Raiola enters the game and DELIVERS in crunch time @OregonFootball https://t.co/W7P5lKbGYm
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2026

Dante Moore is set to miss another game as he deals with a concussion, but the Ducks are hoping for better play at the QB position.

Raiola went just 6-of-19 for 43 yards with two interceptions in the previous game against UCLA, and the offense has combined to score just 32 points in the past two weeks.

Matt Wadleigh

Matt Wadleigh is based in California and born and raised in the San Diego area. He studied print journalism at Fresno State for college and got to watch Paul George, Derek Carr and Davante Adams play in a Bulldogs uniform. His work has been featured at ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, Sporting News, and various USA Today sites, including UCLA Wire, where he was the first managing editor

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