‘I Was Reckless With the Ball Today,’ ‘Too Early to Make a Decision’ — Raiola, Lanning Respond as Seven Turnovers Drop Oregon Out of AP Rankings

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Oregon dropped out of The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday for the first time in four years, a day after a 17-15 home loss to UCLA left the Ducks 3-2. They opened the season at No. 2, their highest preseason ranking ever.

Oregon turned the ball over seven times Saturday with starting quarterback Dante Moore sidelined by a concussion. Dylan Raiola, making the start in his place, went 6 of 19 for 43 yards with two interceptions before Brock Thomas replaced him for the fourth quarter.

Dylan Raiola Takes Blame After Oregon’s Seven-Turnover Loss to UCLA

Oregon’s defense forced three turnovers and held UCLA to 140 rushing yards. The offense lost five fumbles, threw two interceptions and went 1 of 12 on third down.

Raiola lost a fumble and threw both interceptions, the second late in the third quarter. Oregon coach Dan Lanning said he made the switch after that turnover and acknowledged the move could have come sooner.

Thomas, a senior and Eugene native, went 11 of 15 for 156 yards. His 44-yard touchdown pass to Evan Stewart cut UCLA’s lead to 17-15 with just over two minutes left, but the two-point try failed, as one had after Jordon Davison’s first-quarter touchdown.

EVERY QB, GRADED:PFN’s CFB QB Impact Rankings

Raiola said after the game that he let the team down. “I was reckless with the ball today, and you can’t win football games like that. I thought we prepared; I thought our coaches prepared us.”

Lanning said he shares some of the responsibility for Raiola’s performance.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III pointed to Moore’s injury and the quarterback change in a post on X. “Oregon is in shambles.”

Oregon has lost two of its first five games for the first time since 2016, according to The Associated Press. Lanning said the Ducks no longer control their own destiny. Pro Football Network’s College Football Playoff Meter gives them a 40.3% chance to make the playoff.

Dan Lanning Puts Oregon’s Offense and Play-Calling Under Review

Lanning also took responsibility for going for two after Davison’s touchdown, saying the decision falls on him and that the missed point could have been the difference.

Asked whether a change at offensive coordinator was in play, Lanning said everything has to be up for evaluation, including the play calls and the way the offense operated in practice.

Aaron J. Fentress, who covers the Ducks for The Oregonian, wrote on X that “Oregon’s offense has plenty of issues, but play-calling isn’t at the top of the list.”

Lanning pointed first to ball security, saying the turnovers repeatedly handed UCLA a short field. He added that Oregon has not protected the quarterback or run the ball well enough this season.

Looking Ahead in Week 7 to Nebraska

Oregon hosts Nebraska at Autzen Stadium next Saturday in Week 7, a matchup with the program Raiola transferred from. Neither team is ranked.

The Cornhuskers (5-1) let a fourth-quarter lead get away earlier Saturday. They led then-No. 7 Indiana 17-6 after quarterback Anthony Colandrea’s 39-yard touchdown run, then gave up touchdown catches of 75 and 44 yards to Nick Marsh, the second on fourth-and-1, in a 20-17 loss.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said his team should have called a timeout before that snap and blamed himself for the confusion.

One Nebraska fan, writing after Raiola was benched, compared him with Colandrea. “I will take Colandrea any day of the week.”

Colandrea went 25 of 43 for 263 yards against Indiana. On Sept. 26 at USC, after Moore was hurt, Raiola went 19 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-27 win.

BEST OFFENSES, RANKED:PFN’s CFB Offense Impact Rankings

Lanning said he was not surprised by what Thomas did and that he anticipates Moore, who has been practicing, will have a chance to return, but that it would be unfair to say so now.

Moore’s PFN Impact grade of 83.3 this season is tied for 30th of 170 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks. Raiola’s PFN Impact grade of 73 this season is tied for 100th of 170 graded and qualified FBS quarterbacks.

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives Oregon a 76.8% chance to beat Nebraska. A loss would drop the Ducks’ playoff chances to 14.6%.

Lanning did not name a starter, saying “it would be too early to make a decision there. Have to go back, evaluate the film, evaluate practice, and see what it looks like, and then see where Dante (Moore) is at.”

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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