Oregon benching quarterback Dante Moore for the rest of the season
The Ducks' No. 2 ranked offense has stalled since his concussion on Sept. 26, leading to coaching changes and a drop in the AP poll.
By David Mokoena ·
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will not play again this season, according to coach Dan Lanning. The announcement came Monday after Moore missed the final three games due to a concussion suffered in late September. Moore had been a Heisman Trophy contender and a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NFL draft before his injury. The Ducks entered the year as the No. 2 team in the AP preseason poll with championship goals.
The injury occurred during a game against USC on Sept. 26. Moore attempted to slide after a scramble but was hit late by linebacker Desman Stephens II in the second quarter. He remained on the field for an extended period before an ambulance took him to Los Angeles General Medical Center. Doctors diagnosed a concussion, though his MRI and CT scans showed no other damage. In his first four games, Moore completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns with no interceptions.
Lanning emphasized that the decision was medical, not personal. He said Moore would have played if he could, but the team has not given him full clearance. Lanning noted that while the staff can control Moore’s practice environment, they cannot control the physical demands of a game. The coach stated the team received clarity on the situation this week. He described the decision as being out of the team's territory regarding game readiness.
The Ducks' offense has struggled without Moore at the helm. The team has scored fewer than 20 points in each of the three games since his injury, losing two of them. Backup Dylan Raiola and third-stringer Brock Thomas have shared starting duties but have not established a consistent rhythm. On Sunday, the team lost to Illinois 21-10, a result that effectively ended Oregon's chances of reaching the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive year.
Lanning made immediate personnel changes following the loss to Illinois. He fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and named Jay Johnson as the new playcaller. Johnson serves as the offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach. He is in his first year with Oregon and has been a college coach since 1994. His previous roles included offensive coordinator at Wyoming and Michigan State. Lanning said the change was intended to create consistency and provide a new spark for the offense.
Moore started his college career at UCLA, where he threw for 1,610 yards and nine touchdowns in the first six games of the 2023 season. He was replaced by backup Ethan Garbers after that stretch. He transferred to Oregon for the 2024 season, where he sat behind Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel. Moore became the starting quarterback in 2025, leading Oregon to a 13-2 record. That season, he finished with 3,565 passing yards, a 71% completion rate, and 30 touchdowns.
His performance earned praise from NFL scouts and opposing coaches. ESPN draft analysts projected he would be a top-three selection if he entered the 2026 draft. He chose to return to Oregon for his senior year instead. According to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., Moore is currently ranked as the 25th prospect in the upcoming NFL draft. Lanning said Moore remains a big part of the team even while he recovers.
Source: ESPN
