Dylan Raiola was the first major name to come up in the Transfer Portal this offseason. Many teams wre brought up as options to where Raiola would transfer to. However, not many people could have predicted Raiola would end up in Autzen.
On Monday, Raiola announced that he will be joining the Oregon Ducks in 2026. Raiola is also set to join former Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Dan Lanning.
Dan Lanning, Dylan Raiola shake up college football world
This move has more College Football Playoff implications than many would care to admit. Oregon still has their quarterback in Dante Moore, who is only a sophomore and just led the Ducks to the semifinals where they lost to the hottest team in football in Indiana. The question now arises as to what Moore will do with Raiola in the picture. Moore could hit the Transfer Portal himself, and that would give a different football team the opportunity to compete at a high level in 2026.
Whatever the case may be, this could either be a huge win or a drastic loss for the former Bulldogs assistant. Raiola can be one of the best quarterbacks in the country when healthy. However, Raiola has also notably had issues with committing to programs.
Raiola went to four different high schools and was committed to two different programs, including Georgia, before eventually landing with Nebraska. If Raiola decides to jump ship after 2026, Oregon could be without a single quarterback and all the NIL funds spent on the former five star. Raiola is also coming off of a serious injury, so the timetable for him to come back is still uncertain.
Lanning just took a big risk. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out for the Ducks. No matter what happens, this will shake up college football. Moore could be hitting the portal and Raiola could either sink Oregon or push them over the edge to a championship.
Around Oregon, now the Big Ten will feel the pressure to match what Oregon is building. Teams like Alabama who were trying for Raiola will now be pursuing other players in the portal. This move could go down as one that will change football for generations.