Oregon's starting quarterback Dylan Raiola has one thing to watch against Northwestern: his consistency

Raiola gets another start

CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Raiola will start for Oregon against Northwestern on Saturday. The Ducks are preparing to host the Wildcats at Autzen Stadium on Halloween, with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. PT.

Raiola has not led Oregon to a win as a starter, but he has been part of two victories after coming off the bench. Those appearances came against USC and Nebraska. Against UCLA and Illinois, Oregon scored a combined 25 points with Raiola in the offense.

Accuracy and pocket presence

Raiola completed 31.6 percent of his passes against UCLA and 65.9 percent against Illinois. Oregon will need more consistent completions to sustain drives and help control possession. Coach Dan Lanning has emphasized stepping up in the pocket instead of rolling out to try to make plays with his legs. The offensive line has not consistently provided clean pockets, though Raiola has taken four sacks in five games. He appeared composed under pressure against USC, but missed too many receivers against Illinois, when Oregon scored 10 points.

Lanning seeks consistency

Lanning said Oregon has performed better with quarterbacks entering games from the bench than at the start of games. He also said the team needs to find a reliable rhythm and that the quarterback position requires competition.

The coach said staff changes and play calls could help create consistency, including making things clearer in some situations. He added that Oregon has players capable of succeeding, but the improvement must show on the field. With Moore sidelined, Raiola could have a chance to lead the Ducks through the rest of the season.

A test against Northwestern

Northwestern’s defense is expected to pressure Raiola and challenge his decision-making. Keeping the offense in rhythm and protecting the ball will be central to his performance. With assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson calling plays against Northwestern, Raiola has an opportunity to show he can deliver more consistent play as a starter.