Moore ruled out for UCLA as Raiola prepares for first Oregon start

Dante Moore is out for Oregon's game against UCLA on Saturday, according to the Big Ten's initial availability report published Wednesday evening. The conference lists Dylan Raiola as available, and ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that he will make his first start for the Ducks. Moore's return to practice earlier this week has not produced clearance for this matchup.

The Wednesday ruling follows an earlier CBS Sports report that Moore was unlikely to play. CBS updated its story after the availability report. Oregon has been preparing for the possibility of using Raiola since Moore left the September 26 USC game following a hit to the head.

Raiola already has experience running this offense in a difficult game. Oregon's official UCLA preview credits him with completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns in the 41-27 win at USC. After the Trojans tied the score at 27 in the fourth quarter, he threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dakorien Moore. Jordon Davison added a rushing touchdown with 2:13 remaining.

That performance gives Oregon something concrete to build on as it prepares its next quarterback start. The Ducks are coming off a bye, and the UCLA game will be Raiola's first opportunity to lead them from the opening snap. His relief outing shows what he delivered against USC; Saturday will test the offense with a different opponent and the responsibility of an entire game.

In his official Wednesday interview, Raiola credited preparation, film study and familiarity with his teammates for his calm on the field. He also welcomed seeing Moore back at practice and described the two quarterbacks helping each other improve. Those comments keep Moore's recovery and Raiola's preparation in view without establishing a timetable for Moore's next appearance.

The availability report includes another absence in Oregon's passing game: receiver Jeremiah McClellan is out. Dakorien Moore is available. The different statuses matter when considering the options around Raiola, and the report does not announce a replacement workload for McClellan. On UCLA's side, quarterback Nico Iamaleava is available; receiver Mikey Matthews is out.

No. 13 Oregon enters the game at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. No. 21 UCLA is 4-0 and 2-0 in conference play under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. The scheduled television window begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, October 10, at Autzen Stadium, with CBS carrying the game. The next conference reports will track the other unsettled statuses as Oregon prepares to start Raiola.