Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to a concussion sustained against USC, head coach Dan Lanning announced Monday. Moore sits out as the Ducks navigate a quarterback rotation and offensive coordinator change.
The Oregon Ducks will finish the 2026 campaign without their quarterback, as head coach Dan Lanning confirmed that Dante Moore is not expected to return this year. Moore has been sidelined since late September after suffering a head injury during a game in Los Angeles.
The September Hit at USC and Subsequent Recovery
During the first half of Oregon’s matchup against the USC Trojans on September 26, Moore scrambled and attempted to slide at the end of a run. USC linebacker Desman Stephens II delivered a hit to the quarterback’s helmet, causing the back of Moore’s head to hit the turf violently.
Oregon QB Dante Moore’s Career in Eugene is Likely Coming to a Close 🤯Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s career in Eugene may be coming to a close, as there is an increased likelihood that he calls it a season. Moore has not played since September 26 after sustaining a… pic.twitter.com/S2QqDsr0Rq
Moore was taken from the field in an ambulance for evaluation. Although Moore eventually returned to practice to throw the ball during the team’s bye week, he was never medically cleared for game action.
If it was up to Dante in any shape, way, he would be out there playing for the guys.
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via ESPN
Lanning emphasized that the decision to keep Moore off the field stems strictly from medical reality rather than any player dissatisfaction with the team’s 4-3 record.
This isn’t a selfish decision on Dante’s part, saying, ‘I don’t want to come back, the season doesn’t look the way I want it to look.’ That’s not at all what this is.
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via ESPN
Before the injury, Moore had completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 926 yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions across four games. Lanning reiterated that medical staff anticipate a full recovery.
We said before that this is a serious deal that he’ll 100% be able to fully recover from, that hasn’t changed.
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via Nbcsports
Offensive Struggles and Coaching Staff Changes
The loss of Moore disrupted the Oregon offense. The team has suffered losses to Illinois, among others, that damaged their College Football Playoff aspirations.
Lanning and the coaching staff turned to backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas to split duties under center. Those offensive shortcomings prompted Lanning to fire offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Sunday.
Ultimately, I felt like we needed to be able to develop more consistency there, and this gave us a spark and an opportunity to be able to do that.
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via ESPN
Future Decisions Regarding the NFL Draft and 2027 Eligibility
Entering the 2026 season, Moore was a preseason Heisman Trophy contender. After choosing to return to Eugene for his senior year following a 13-2 season in 2025 where he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, his draft stock faces new questions due to the missed playing time.
Due to the NCAA’s five-year eligibility policy, Moore retains the option to return to school in 2027 for a final year of college football, though he is currently ranked as a prospect in the upcoming NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
Lanning noted that discussions regarding future draft entry or a potential college return have not yet taken place, with the immediate focus remaining on the remainder of the 2026 schedule and preparing for upcoming matchups.
That’s not fair for me to say or speculate. Obviously, he’ll have a decision again at the end of the season of what that looks like. I think we all can acknowledge that Dante’s a great player, and he’ll get the opportunity to be drafted. But what that looks like in the future, I think that’s a decision for a later date. I don’t know where his mind’s at on that.
Dan Lanning, Oregon Head Coach, via University of Oregon Athletics
