EUGENE, Ore. — Projected to be one of the top selections in the 2026 NFL Draft before opting to return to Eugene for his senior season, Oregon Ducks star quarterback Dante Moore is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 college football season due to an ongoing battle with a concussion, head coach Dan Lanning announced Monday.
The announcement brings an abrupt and unfortunate end to a promising campaign for the preseason Heisman Trophy contender. Moore has already missed the past three games after sustaining the head injury during a high-profile matchup against Southern California on September 26. Despite making progress in recent weeks—including light throwing sessions during practice—the senior signal-caller has ultimately been unable to clear the necessary medical protocols to return to competitive play.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Lanning addressed the decision to shut down his star quarterback for the remainder of the year, emphasizing that the choice was entirely health-driven and supported by medical professionals rather than any reluctance from the player himself.
"If it was up to Dante in any shape, way, he would be out there playing for the guys," Lanning said of his team’s leader, whose squad began the season ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll. "This isn’t a selfish decision on Dante’s part, saying, ‘I don’t want to come back, the season doesn’t look the way I want it to look.’ That’s not at all what this is."
The injury occurred during the second quarter of the September 26 contest against USC, when Moore absorbed a late hit from Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II. The impact left the quarterback requiring immediate medical attention on the field before he was ultimately transported by ambulance to Los Angeles General Medical Center for evaluation. While subsequent medical updates from the university noted that Moore’s MRI and CT scans returned clean, the impact was severe enough to result in a diagnosed concussion that has sidelined him indefinitely.
Prior to the injury, Moore was putting together a phenomenal start to his senior campaign. Through the early portion of the season, he had established himself as one of the most efficient and dangerous passers in the country, throwing for 926 yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions while completing an impressive 69.7% of his passing attempts. His commanding presence under center was a primary reason the Ducks entered the fall with national championship aspirations.
While Moore worked through his recovery by participating in light throwing drills during recent practices, Lanning and the Oregon coaching staff exercised extreme caution, ultimately deciding against rushing their franchise player back onto the gridiron before he was fully cleared.
The absence of Moore has created an undeniable void for the Oregon offense. In the three games played without their starting quarterback, the Ducks have struggled significantly to find an offensive rhythm, posting a 1-2 record over that stretch. Compounding the issue, Oregon’s offense has managed to score fewer than 20 points in each of those three contests, a stark contrast to the high-powered unit that dominated opponents early in the year.
In Moore’s absence, backup quarterback Dylan Raiola and third-string signal-caller Brock Thomas have shared starting and playing duties. However, neither player has been able to replicate the consistent success, poise, and production that Moore provided before his injury.
The mounting offensive struggles reached a boiling point over the weekend following a 21-10 defeat against Illinois. In the wake of the disappointing loss, Oregon made a significant shakeup to its coaching staff, dismissing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Sunday.
Looking to stabilize the unit moving forward, Lanning announced on Monday night that offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson will take over playcalling duties for the remainder of the season. Johnson brings decades of experience to the role, having coached at the collegiate level since 1994, which includes previous stints as the offensive coordinator at both Wyoming and Michigan State. He is currently in his first season with the Ducks program.
Moore’s collegiate journey has been characterized by steady growth and high-level performance. After beginning his college career at UCLA in 2023, Moore elected to enter the transfer portal and move to Oregon, where he spent the entirety of the 2024 season serving as the understudy and backup to established starter Dillon Gabriel.
That patient developmental year paid massive dividends in 2025. Stepping into the starting role last season, Moore put together a stellar campaign, throwing for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 71% of his passes, guiding the Ducks to an impressive 13-2 overall record. That stellar body of work not only solidified Oregon among the nation’s elite teams but also positioned Moore as one of the premier quarterback prospects on the radar of NFL scouts ahead of the 2026 draft cycle.
With Moore officially sidelined for the remainder of the year, the Ducks will now turn their full attention toward salvaging their season under Johnson’s newly restructured offensive leadership, beginning with the challenge of adapting to life without their on-field leader as conference play continues.