Dante Moore
Oregon quarterback. The latest official availability, what Lanning has said and what remains unknown.
Quarterback, as of October 26, 2026: Dylan Raiola started at quarterback at Illinois on Oct 24 and played the whole game: 27 of 41 for 246 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, in the 21-10 loss. Brock Thomas did not play (Oregon Athletics official box score and participation list). Dante Moore is out for the rest of the season: Dan Lanning said on Monday, Oct 26, that Moore has no medical clearance after the concussion at USC on Sept 26 and that “for him to be out there on the field for us, that’s not gonna happen.” Oregon has not named a starter for Northwestern on Oct 31. Injury tracker · Depth chart
Dante Moore will not play again in 2026. Dan Lanning said on Monday, Oct 26: “for him to be out there on the field for us, that's not gonna happen.” Moore has no medical clearance, and Lanning said “this isn't a selfish decision on Dante's part” and that Moore will “100% be able to fully recover” (as quoted by ESPN, Oct 26, 2026). We are hoping for the very best for Dante Moore. Dan Lanning said on Sunday, Sept 27, that Moore sustained a concussion at USC, that his MRI and CT scans came back clean, and that he did not suffer any additional injuries: “Every concussion is different and we are going to move forward with an abundance of caution to ensure we make the best decisions for Dante and his future.” He was hurt on Sept 26, hit late at the end of a slide with 10:06 left in the first half, and left the Coliseum by ambulance for Los Angeles General County Hospital. We are tracking every official update, and the injury tracker changes the moment Oregon says anything. On Monday, Sept 28, Lanning said Moore is “doing much better” and “in recovery mode right now,” and Moore posted, “I'll be back soon. Go Ducks!” On Wednesday, Sept 30, Lanning called him “healthy and doing well” and said Oregon will “continue to evaluate” him. Before the injury he started Oregon's first four games of 2026, after 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025.
Sat Sept 26, 2nd quarter (10:06 left): hit late at the end of a slide; USC's Desman Stephens II ejected for targeting; play stopped about 15 minutes (ESPN play-by-play; Associated Press).
Sat Sept 26, during the game: left on a stretcher (Oregon Athletics) and was taken by ambulance to Los Angeles General County Hospital; a team spokesperson said he had movement in all of his extremities (ESPN, Paolo Uggetti).
Sat Sept 26, postgame: Dan Lanning: “Right now indications are that he's going to be, you know, he's in recovery, so I don't want to speak too soon, but he is moving.” He had not yet seen Moore, only updates from Oregon's medical staff (press conference, recorded by Matt Prehm and CFB on FOX).
Sun Sept 27, morning: CBS Sports (Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer), citing sources, reported a concussion, no other injury believed, and that he is expected to return at some point after concussion protocol, with no timetable. On3's Pete Nakos reported that he flew home to Eugene with the team. Oregon had not yet commented.
Sun Sept 27, 4:15 PM PT: Dan Lanning, in a statement posted by Oregon Football: “Dante sustained a concussion in last night's game but fortunately his MRI and CT scans came back clean and he did not suffer any additional injuries. Every concussion is different and we are going to move forward with an abundance of caution to ensure we make the best decisions for Dante and his future.” He also thanked Oregon's medical staff and the staffs at USC and LA General County Hospital. No return date.
Mon Sept 28: Lanning on Wake Up Barstool: “He's doing much better. Obviously, it's a real serious injury... but he's in recovery mode right now,” and “This is where we got to protect him from himself a little bit and make sure we do what's best for him.” On the Pat McAfee Show: “I'm sure he's anxious to get back out on the field.” Moore on Instagram: “These past 2 days have been very difficult, but through all of your prayers I have made progress... I'll be back soon. Go Ducks!” (@dantemoore on Instagram, 12:00 PM PT Sept 28). No return date.
Wed Sept 30: Lanning at his press conference: “So it's great to know that he's healthy and doing well, but you know, still continue to evaluate that.” No return date, and no UCLA starter named (GoDucks video).
Sat Oct 3: Lanning on FOX, with Matt Leinart and Mark Ingram II: “Looking like he's going to be okay... in recovery mode right now. And we'll just continue to proceed with an abundance of caution to make sure that he's ready to go whenever he's able to step back out there for us.” No return date (CFB on FOX video).
Mon Oct 5: Lanning at his press conference: “Dante was out there with practice, you know, for us today,” and Oregon will “continue to make sure we do what's best for Dante as we move forward.” No starter named (GoDucks video).
Wed Oct 7: Lanning: “Everybody has a smile on their face getting to see Dante out there with us this week and it's been fun seeing him compete” (GoDucks video). That evening Oregon's first Big Ten availability report for UCLA listed him OUT (conference availability portal).
Thu Oct 8: Oregon's Thursday availability report for UCLA again lists him OUT (conference availability portal).
Fri Oct 9 and Sat Oct 10: the Friday report and the gameday report for UCLA (read 10:31 AM PT Saturday) both list him OUT (conference availability portal).
Oct 14 through Oct 24: OUT on every Big Ten availability report for Nebraska and Illinois; he did not play in either game (conference availability portal; Oregon official box scores).
Mon Oct 26: Lanning says Moore will not play again this season: “for him to be out there on the field for us, that's not gonna happen.” No medical clearance; expected to “100% be able to fully recover” (as quoted by ESPN, Paolo Uggetti, Oct 26, 2026).
Last checked October 26, 2026, 9:29 PM PT: nothing official from Oregon since. The injury tracker changes the moment that does.
To my team, the community, and to the World, thank you. These past 2 days have been very difficult, but through all of your prayers I have made progress. There’s times I question myself and the Lord and say Why now? but I quickly remember Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. I can only worry about today, and making sure I give today it’s full attention. I’ll be back soon. Go Ducks! 🦆
Dante Moore (@dantemoore), September 28, 2026, 12:00 PM PT
Sources (14)
OUT on all four of Oregon's Big Ten availability reports for Illinois, including the game-day report, and did not play. It was the third straight game he has missed since the concussion at USC on Sept 26.
Big Ten availability reports for Oregon at Illinois, Oct 21-24, 2026; Oregon Athletics official participation list, Oct 24, 2026
Dante Moore started Oregon's first four games of 2026, going 69 of 99 for 926 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions, before he was hurt at USC on Sept 26 (the injury tracker has every official word). He came into the season off a 2025 in which he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns and Oregon went 13-2 and reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, and he chose to come back rather than enter the NFL Draft. The story of that decision is further down this page.
Started all 15 games. Led Oregon to Big Ten Championship and CFP semifinal.
Spring Practice: The Growth
Sources: GoDucks.com, Duck Sports Central, SI Oregon, Locked On Ducks (April 2026). Read about the coordinator building Moore's system →
The Decision to Return
The Heisman Case
What to Watch in 2026
Key Games
Career Highlights
The Person
Frequently Asked Questions
At USC on Sept 26, 2026, with 10:06 left in the first half, Moore finished a 10-yard run and went into his slide, and USC linebacker Desman Stephens II hit him late. Stephens was flagged for targeting and ejected. Play stopped for 15 minutes, and Moore left on a stretcher (Oregon Athletics) and was taken by ambulance to Los Angeles General County Hospital. Dylan Raiola played the rest of the game, and Oregon won 41-27. Sources: ESPN play-by-play; Associated Press; ESPN (Paolo Uggetti), Sept 26, 2026.
Dan Lanning said on Sunday, Sept 27, that Moore sustained a concussion in the USC game, that his MRI and CT scans came back clean, and that he did not suffer any additional injuries (statement posted by Oregon Football). On Monday, Sept 28, Lanning said he is “doing much better” and “in recovery mode right now” (Wake Up Barstool), and Moore posted, “I'll be back soon. Go Ducks!” On the night of the game a team spokesperson said he had movement in all of his extremities, and On3 reported that he flew home to Eugene with the team. We are hoping for the best and tracking every official update on the injury tracker.
Oregon has not said. On Wednesday, Sept 30, Lanning called him “healthy and doing well” but said Oregon will “continue to evaluate” him. Lanning's Sunday statement confirmed the concussion and said “Every concussion is different and we are going to move forward with an abundance of caution,” but gave no date. CBS Sports reported earlier Sunday, citing sources, that he is expected to return at some point after concussion protocol, with no timetable; that is a report, not an Oregon announcement, and it does not say which game. Oregon's Big Ten availability reports for UCLA, filed Oct 7 and Oct 8, list him OUT; every report is on the injury tracker.
He was, and his numbers still are: 926 passing yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in the four games he played in 2026 (ESPN box scores; he did not play against UCLA), after 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025. The concussion at USC on Sept 26 ended the race: on Oct 26 Dan Lanning said Moore will not play again this season (ESPN, Oct 26, 2026). The Heisman odds this page used to quote dated from July; we have taken them down rather than print a new number we cannot check at a sportsbook. His health comes first. The injury tracker has every official update.
Moore turned down an estimated $50M in NFL draft value to return for the 2026 season. He wants to finish what he started and compete for a national championship. Offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer built the 2026 offense around Moore's dual-threat ability until Oregon relieved him of his duties on Oct 25, 2026.
In 2025, Moore threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns with 10 interceptions across 15 starts. He led Oregon to a 13-2 record and back-to-back CFP appearances.
Before the 2026 draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper had Moore as the #1 overall prospect in that class, meaning he turned down being the top pick to return to Oregon. His 2027 draft stock is a question for later; his recovery comes first. See the full 2026 NFL Draft class.
Dante Moore on video this season
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