Oregon ends season for Dante Moore following concussion

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will not play again this season due to a concussion, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Monday. Moore has been sidelined since September 26, when he suffered a late hit to the head from USC linebacker Desman Stephens II.

Lanning stated that the coaching staff gained clarity on the medical situation during the previous week. He explained that while Moore would likely prefer to remain on the field, the final decision rests with the medical team rather than 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.

The coach affirmed that the injury is serious but emphasized that Moore will make a full recovery. "For him to be out there on the field for us right now, that's not going to happen," Lanning noted. Moore will remain at the facility to assist the defense during practice sessions, where he provides scout team looks for the unit.

Prior to the injury, Moore completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without throwing an interception. Last season, he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors after completing 71.8 percent of his throws for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Oregon's offense has ranked among the weakest in the Big Ten conference during Moore's absence. The team has alternated between backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas at the position. Lanning identified consistency, particularly at the start of games, as the primary area for improvement. "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."

The Ducks currently hold a 4-3 overall record and a 2-2 mark in conference play. They face No. 20 Northwestern on Saturday. Moore was projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick last year but returned to college to pursue a national championship. He will face another decision after the 2026 season concludes, with the option to return to Oregon in 2027 under the NCAA's five-year eligibility policy.

Lanning said he has not yet discussed future plans with Moore. "He'll have a decision at the end of the season about what that looks like," the coach said. "I think we all can acknowledge Dante is a great player, and he'll get the opportunity to be drafted." Opinions differ on where Moore might land in the draft, with his recent performance and injury potentially affecting his stock.