Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore Out for Season After Concussion

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning announced on Monday that quarterback Dante Moore, who has missed the last three games due to a concussion, is not expected to return for the remainder of the season. Moore, a senior who had returned to the Ducks for another year after being projected as a top selection in the 2026 NFL draft, entered this campaign as a preseason Heisman Trophy contender. At the start of the year, the Ducks were ranked number two in the Associated Press poll and harbored national championship ambitions.

The injury occurred during a game against the University of Southern California on September 26. Moore attempted to slide after a scramble in the second quarter but was hit late by linebacker Desman Stephens II. He remained on the field for an extended period before being transported to Los Angeles General Medical Center for evaluation. While his MRI and CT scans returned clear results, the team confirmed he had sustained a concussion.

Prior to the injury, Moore had played in four games with impressive statistics, including a 69.7 percent completion rate, 926 passing yards, nine touchdown passes, and no interceptions. Lanning noted that although Moore returned to practice and even threw the ball in recent weeks, the coaching staff never established a specific timeline for his return. The coach emphasized that the decision to sit him out was not selfish, stating that Moore would have loved to play for his teammates but has not yet been medically cleared.

Lanning explained that the team gained clarity on the situation earlier this week. He stated that while the coaches can control the environment during scout team practices, they have less control over the intensity of live games. Lanning affirmed that the concussion is a serious matter, though he believed Moore would fully recover. The quarterback will remain a significant part of the team even if he does not take the field again this year.

In Moore’s absence, the Oregon offense has struggled significantly. The Ducks have scored fewer than 20 points in all three games he missed, resulting in two losses. Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola and third-stringer Brock Thomas have both started games but have been unable to establish a consistent rhythm. The team’s 21-10 loss to Illinois on Sunday effectively ended Oregon’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff for a third consecutive year.

Following the loss to Illinois, Lanning dismissed offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. On Monday night, the coach announced that Jay Johnson, an offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach, would take over playcalling duties. Johnson is in his first year with Oregon and has been a college coach since 1994. His previous roles included serving as the offensive coordinator at Wyoming and Michigan State. Lanning said the change was intended to create more consistency and provide a spark for the offense.

Moore began his college career at UCLA, where he started as a freshman. In the first six games of the 2023 season, he threw for 1,610 yards and nine touchdowns with 11 interceptions before being replaced by backup Ethan Garbers. He subsequently transferred to Oregon during the offseason. The Ducks had brought in Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel as the starter for the 2024 season, behind whom Moore sat for his entire redshirt year.

In 2025, Moore emerged as the primary starter and led Oregon to a 13-2 record. He finished that season with 3,565 passing yards, a 71 percent completion rate, and 30 touchdowns. His performance drew high praise from opposing coaches and NFL scouts. Had he declared for the 2026 draft earlier, ESPN draft analysts projected him as a top three pick. Currently, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Moore as the 25th prospect in the upcoming draft class.