Oregon's Dylan Raiola faces the media after being benched in the loss to UCLA

Dylan Raiola was pulled from the game during Oregon's home loss to UCLA on Saturday, and then he did something few benched quarterbacks do. He went to the podium after the game and answered questions himself.

ClutchPoints reported that Raiola's appearance at the postgame session caught reporters off guard. Brenna Greene of KOIN News asked him why he chose to speak. According to Greene, Raiola said he has a younger brother, Dayton, and wants to set a good example for him. He also said he owed an explanation for the loss to both the media and the fans, and that he wanted to deal with it directly.

Raiola has been starting while Dante Moore, a Heisman Trophy contender, is out. Saturday was a rough day for him. ClutchPoints noted that his play drew public criticism from a former NFL lineman who also starred at Oregon. The Ducks' offense did almost nothing for most of the afternoon against the No. 21 Bruins. The loss was No. 13 Oregon's second of the season, and UCLA outplayed and outgained the Ducks.

The only real spark came after Raiola sat down. Third-string quarterback Brock Thomas went 11 of 15 for 156 yards and a touchdown, and Oregon scored nine points in the fourth quarter with him in the game. Dierre Hill Jr. led the team with 44 rushing yards. Dakorein Moore was the top receiver with four catches for 77 yards.

That sets up a quarterback question for Dan Lanning. ClutchPoints wrote that Raiola's hold on the starting job looks shaky. Thomas played well in relief, the criticism from outside is getting louder, and Moore is expected back. Moore's stock has been climbing lately, with recent talk that he could go in the first round of the NFL draft. Once Moore is healthy, the job is his. Until then, Lanning has to choose between the starter he has been using and the backup who just moved the offense.

The timing makes the choice more awkward. Oregon plays Nebraska on Oct. 17, and Nebraska is Raiola's former team. A week ago, a return to face the Cornhuskers would have been a big moment for Raiola. Now it could arrive with him on the sideline, or it could be his chance to win the job back.

The stakes are high for the Ducks either way. A team with national title hopes now has two losses before the middle of October. The offense has to look much better against Nebraska than it did against UCLA, no matter who starts. Lanning has not yet named a starter for that game. Raiola, for his part, chose to take questions on a night when he could have stayed out of view.