Oregon confirms Dante Moore is out for 2026 season with concussion

The University of Oregon has ended the 2026 season for starting quarterback Dante Moore, who is recovering from a concussion. Head coach Dan Lanning announced the decision on Monday, stating that the team will not expect Moore to return to active duty before the regular season concludes.

Moore has been sidelined since September 26, when he sustained a late hit to the head from USC linebacker Desman Stephens II. Lanning explained that the coaching staff gained clarity on Moore's recovery status over the past week. The coach noted that while Moore would prefer to play, the medical decision rests with the team's medical staff rather than the player or the head 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.

Lanning described the injury as serious but affirmed 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," the coach said. Despite his absence from games, Moore remains involved in daily operations. Lanning said the quarterback is helping the defense in practice, providing a valuable look for the scout team. The coach added that Moore "looks good out there" during these sessions.

Before the injury, Moore completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception. His 2025 season saw him earn third-team All-Big Ten honors, finishing with 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Since Moore's departure, the Ducks have alternated between backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas. The offense has struggled to maintain consistency, a point Lanning emphasized when discussing what he expects from the remaining staff. "We haven't been a very good quarterback room consistently at the start of games," he said.

Oregon currently holds a 4-3 record overall and a 2-2 mark in Big Ten play. The team will face No. 20 Northwestern on Saturday. The injury raises questions about Moore's path to the NFL. He was projected as a first-round draft pick after last season but returned to college to pursue a national championship. That goal did not materialize, and he must now decide whether to return to Oregon in 2027 under the NCAA's five-year eligibility policy or enter the draft again.

Lanning said he has not yet discussed those long-term plans with Moore. "He'll have a decision at the end of the season about what that looks like," Lanning said. The coach added that neither he nor Moore is focusing on that choice at the moment. Draft analysts remain divided on where Moore would land, with the injury potentially affecting his stock.