Oregon Should be Very Happy With Dylan Raiola Impressing With QB Question Looming

Oregon finally got a much-needed win on the football field against Northwestern, taking down one of the better teams not only in the Big Ten, but in all of college football this season. 

It's interesting that Oregon has struggled at the level it has throughout the season but was able to take down a Northwestern team that many consider one of the best in the country. 

The promising sign for Oregon is that it was able to do a lot of promising things offensively, with quarterback Dylan Raiola really showing that he has all the tools to be successful at the highest level in college football. It's been tough to get a feel for Raiola throughout the year since Dante Moore has gone down, with Oregon even having to sit him a bit. 

However, the Nebraska transfer went 22 of 31 for 336 yards and three touchdowns, perhaps playing his best game in a Ducks uniform outside of his win against USC when Moore initially went down.

As for how he's feeling right now, it sounds like Raiola has a lot of confidence, and that might be all he needs to make Oregon the team it was looking to be entering the season. 

Unfortunately for the Ducks, this isn't going to change a whole lot of outcomes throughout the year, as it's very unlikely that they have a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Barring something drastic happening with some other teams, Oregon pretty much needs a miracle.

"I think it's a different feeling when I feel confident or in a flow state," Raiola said, per Ducks Wire.

"Like I said, my team gives me so much confidence. When I have the ball, my job is just to find them when they're open. Like you saw today, if the ball is anywhere near them, they're going to make a play. Knowing that, and the way we ran the football, I know it was kind of shaky in the beginning, but that's football. We played a really good football team, and they pride themselves on stopping the run. For us to impose our will toward the end of the game, I think that showed a lot about who we are as a program and as an offense."

While the season might be over, the same isn't necessarily said for a guy like Raiola, who has to prove to other teams or Oregon that he is good enough to come in and be a starting quarterback next season. 

I know some fans don't want him back, so I'll be interested to see what happens in that regard. In terms of him returning to Oregon, it's safe to say that if he continues playing at this level over the next couple of weeks, he's going to be in a good position to do just that. 

Whether Oregon ultimately wants to do that remains to be seen, but this was a really good sign for the young man and should have a lot of fans excited.