Oregon QB Dante Moore ruled out for 2026 season after head injury

Oregon will not field its starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2026 college football season.

Coach Dan Lanning announced on Monday that Dante Moore will sit out the rest of the campaign while he recovers from a concussion. The injury occurred on Sept. 26 when Moore suffered a late hit to the head from USC linebacker Desman Stephens II. Lanning stated that the coaching staff gained clarity on Moore's status during the past week. He explained that while the team can control practice settings, game conditions are less predictable. "We can control the setting in practice where he's able to do things for us, but that is not always the case in the game," Lanning said.

Lanning emphasized that the decision rests on medical protocols rather than the preferences of the player or the coach. Moore expressed a desire to play if the choice were his, but the staff determined that returning to the field immediately is not the right course of action. "For him to be out there on the field for us right now, that is not going to happen," the coach said. Lanning assured fans that Moore will make a full recovery, describing the injury as serious but manageable.

The Ducks will continue to utilize Moore in practice, where he will assist the defense. Lanning noted that Moore provides a valuable scout team presence each week. "He looks good out there," Lanning said, adding that the defense benefits from facing a high-caliber passer in practice. On the field, the offense has relied on backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas since Moore's injury.

Oregon's passing attack has struggled in Moore's absence, ranking among the weaker offenses in Big Ten play. Lanning identified consistency, particularly in the opening drives, as the primary area for improvement. "We have not been a very good quarterback room consistently at the start of games," he said. Before the injury, Moore completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception.

The Ducks enter this week's game against No. 20 Northwestern with a 4-3 overall record and a 2-2 conference mark. The loss of Moore raises questions about his future in college football. Moore was projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick last season but returned to school in pursuit of a national championship. He faces another decision when the 2026 season concludes.

Lanning said he has not yet discussed those plans with Moore. Under the NCAA's five-year eligibility policy, Moore is eligible to return to Oregon in 2027. Despite the injury, he remains projected as a first-round pick, though his draft stock may be affected by the slow start and the season-ending injury.