Dante Moore Out for Season After Head Injury

Dante Moore, who completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns before his injury, will not play again for Oregon this season. Head coach Dan Lanning announced the decision on Monday, ending a period of uncertainty that has lingered since September 26. Moore has not appeared in a game since sustaining a concussion from a late hit to the head by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II.

Lanning stated that the coaching staff gained clarity over the past week. While the quarterback would prefer to be on the field, Lanning emphasized that the final call does not rest with the player or the coach. "We can control the setting in practice where he's able to do things for us, but that's not always the case in the game," Lanning said. He reiterated that the injury is serious but expressed confidence that Moore will make a full recovery.

The Ducks' offense has struggled in Moore's absence, ranking among the weakest in Big Ten play. The team has alternated between backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas. Lanning identified consistency as the primary challenge for the current roster. "We've been a really good quarterback room off the bench," he said. "We haven't been a very good quarterback room consistently at the start of games."

Moore will remain active in the program's daily operations. Lanning noted that the injured starter will help the defense in practice, describing him as providing "one of the best scout team looks every single week." The coach added that Moore "looks good out there" in that role, ensuring he stays engaged with the team's preparation.

The decision leaves Moore to make another strategic choice at the end of the 2026 season. He returned to college last year in pursuit of a national title, a goal that did not materialize. Lanning said he has not discussed these future plans with Moore and declined to speculate on the quarterback's intentions. "He'll have a decision at the end of the season about what that looks like," Lanning said.

Under the NCAA's five-year eligibility policy, Moore is eligible to return to Oregon in 2027. He remains projected as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, though opinions vary on his final landing spot. Lanning acknowledged that Moore is a great player who will get the opportunity to be drafted, adding that neither his own focus nor Moore's is on that specific choice right now.

Oregon is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The team returns to the field Saturday to play No. 20 Northwestern.