Oregon Beat Nebraska 17-14 as Raiola Throws the Winning Touchdown Against His Old Team

Oregon beat Nebraska 17 to 14 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday night, October 17, 2026, and the winning pass came from the quarterback Nebraska knows best. Dylan Raiola, who started for Nebraska for two seasons before moving to Oregon, came off the bench for the fourth quarter and threw a 4 yard touchdown pass to tight end Jamari Johnson with 28 seconds left. Oregon converted the two point play to lead for the first time all night, and Nebraska ran out of time near midfield. Oregon moves to 4 and 2 overall and 2 and 1 in the Big Ten. Nebraska falls to 5 and 2 and 2 and 2 in the conference.

A scoreless start and a late Nebraska strike

Neither team scored in the first quarter, and both defenses held deep into the second quarter. Oregon wasted its best early chance. Cornerback Ify Obidegwu intercepted Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea at the Nebraska 14 yard line, but running back Jordon Davison fumbled two plays later and Nebraska recovered at its own 12.

Nebraska scored with 4 seconds left in the first half, on a 17 yard Colandrea touchdown pass to Kwazi Gilmer that stood after a review. Oregon went into halftime with 50 yards of offense and heard boos from the home crowd.

Field goals keep Oregon close

Oregon got a break on the first Nebraska punt of the second half. Punter Archie Wilson put a knee on the ground while fielding a low snap, which ended the play and gave Oregon the ball at the Nebraska 19. The Ducks settled for a 36 yard Gage Hurych field goal, which made it 7 to 3. A 22 yard catch by Dakorien Moore set up a second 36 yard Hurych field goal, and Nebraska led 7 to 6.

The Cornhuskers answered after an interception. A pass by starter Brock Thomas was tipped and intercepted, and Dwayne McDougle returned it to the Oregon 48. Colandrea finished that drive with a 6 yard touchdown run with 7 seconds left in the third quarter, for a 14 to 6 lead. Thomas finished 9 of 20 for 54 yards with one interception. Starter Dante Moore missed his second straight game with a concussion.

Raiola takes over in the fourth quarter

Coach Dan Lanning turned to Raiola for the fourth quarter, against the team he left in the offseason. Raiola led a 17 play, 69 yard drive that took 7 minutes and 42 seconds, and Hurych kicked a 37 yard field goal to cut the lead to 14 to 9 with about seven minutes left. Oregon then forced a three and out, and Nebraska punted with 5 minutes and 31 seconds left.

Raiola kept the last drive alive with a 4 yard pass to Jalen Lott on fourth and 3, reaching the Nebraska 30 with 1 minute and 25 seconds left. A catch by Moore was first ruled a touchdown, then overturned on review because Moore was out of bounds before he held the ball. Two plays later Raiola found Johnson for the score, and Hudson Lewis completed the two point conversion for a 17 to 14 lead. Nebraska reached midfield with 6 seconds left, but time ran out on the next play. It was the first meeting between the schools as Big Ten opponents, and their first game since 2017.