Dylan Raiola's future with the Oregon Ducks deserves to be called into question.
When Dylan Raiola transferred to the Oregon Ducks over the winter, just about everyone assumed he would be the team's starting quarterback for 2027 and 2028 following the eventual departure of Dante Moore.
Raiola is expected to redshirt in 2026 to gain an extra year of eligibility and then take over under center the following season.
But Raiola's future at Oregon just became a heck of a lot more complicated.
Why? Because the Ducks just landed a commitment from top 2027 quarterback Will Mencl, who is a four or five-star prospect depending on who you ask.
Rivals has Mencl penciled in as the No. 1 signal-caller in the country, while 247 Sports ranks him eighth.
Whatever the case may be, it's abundantly clear that he is a threat to steal the starting job in 2027, and it spells pretty bad news for Raiola.
A former five-star recruit himself, Raiola was a massive disappointment at Nebraska. He spent two years with the Cornhuskers, totaling 31 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions while starting both seasons.
Dylan Raiola. Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images.Yes, Raiola completed 69.4 percent of his passes at Lincoln, which was impressive, but he threw for under 3,000 yards in both 2024 and 2025 and showed very little athleticism throughout his tenure with the program.
Was it Nebraska? Did the school simply not put enough talent around him? Or were there deeper issues going on for Raiola?
The Ducks have been masterful at getting the most out of transfer quarterbacks in recent years. Bo Nix. Dillon Gabriel. Dante Moore. Many expected Raiola to join the list of breakout talents under center in Eugene.
But Mencl's decision to commit to Oregon — plus rumors that Raiola hasn't exactly been great in spring practice — is an indication that the Ducks may not be fully prepared to pass the torch from Moore to Raiola in 2027.
Why else would Mencl, one of the nation's top prospects, decide to commit to Oregon? Would he really head to the Ducks knowing that he had no chance of starting in either of his first two seasons? It seems unlikely.
Make no mistake: Raiola is still the favorite to take over once Moore departs for the NFL next year, but he is clearly not guaranteed anything. At all.
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