Oregon is preparing to finish the 2026 season without Dante Moore. Coach Dan Lanning said Monday, October 26, that he does not anticipate the quarterback returning in 2026 after the concussion he suffered against USC on September 26. The update comes as the Ducks try to stabilize an offense that has struggled through three games without its starter.

“I’m not anticipating him being back, no,” Lanning said during his weekly news conference, the Associated Press reported. Moore has missed Oregon’s past three games. He resumed practicing earlier this month but remained in concussion protocol, so a return to practice had not translated into a return to competition.

What Lanning Said About Moore’s Recovery

Lanning stressed that Moore wants to play and that his absence is a medical matter. ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti reported that Moore has not been medically cleared. Lanning rejected the suggestion that the quarterback was choosing to sit out because Oregon’s season had fallen short of expectations.

In Oregon’s account of Monday’s news conference, Lanning said he still expects Moore to make a full recovery. He also explained that Moore can work in a controlled practice setting while remaining unavailable for games. Moore will continue helping the team, including giving the defense a look at opposing offenses as a scout-team quarterback.

The September Hit That Changed Oregon’s Season

Moore was injured during the second quarter against USC on September 26. He was sliding at the end of a run when linebacker Desman Stephens II delivered a late hit. Moore was taken from the field and transported by ambulance for evaluation, turning a game Oregon ultimately won into a frightening afternoon for the quarterback and those watching.

Oregon subsequently announced that Moore had sustained a concussion. Lanning said his MRI and CT scans had come back clean and that he had not suffered additional injuries. USC suspended Stephens for one game following the hit, Reuters reported September 27. A month later, Moore still has not been cleared to return to competition.

A Productive Start Cut Short

Before the injury, Moore had completed 69 of 99 passes for 926 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. That followed a 2025 season in which he helped Oregon finish 13-2 and reach a College Football Playoff semifinal. In his first year as the Ducks’ starter, he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 71.8 percent of his passes.

His contributions have also drawn recognition away from the field. On October 21, Moore was named one of 18 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes academic achievement, football performance and leadership. Oregon reported that he carries a 3.27 GPA in sociology and is on track to graduate in May 2027. The school also highlighted his participation in reading programs, meal preparations and bed-building projects for families in need.

Oregon Faces More Changes on Offense

Oregon has gone 1-2 in the three games Moore has missed, scoring fewer than 20 points in each. Saturday’s 21-10 loss at Illinois left the Ducks at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas have both started during Moore’s absence, with Raiola also providing the late rally in Oregon’s win over Nebraska.

The Illinois game showed how difficult finishing drives has become. Oregon opened with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and built a 10-0 lead, then failed to score again. Raiola finished 27-of-41 for 246 yards, while Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill combined for 175 rushing yards. The Ducks produced 426 total yards, more than Illinois, but went scoreless throughout the second half.

That loss was followed by Lanning’s decision to fire offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Sunday, October 25. Mehringer had joined Oregon as tight ends coach in 2022 and was in his first season leading the offense after Will Stein’s departure for Kentucky. The Ducks have averaged 14 points across their last three games. Jay Johnson will take over playcalling as Oregon works to find more consistency with its remaining quarterbacks.

What Comes Next for Moore and the Ducks

Lanning declined to predict whether Moore would return to Oregon in 2027, saying that decision would come later. He said he and Moore had not had that conversation. Monday’s update addresses Moore’s availability this season; it does not announce a retirement or a decision about his football future.

For the Ducks, the next opportunity to respond comes at home. Oregon hosts Northwestern at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Pacific. After another loss and a change in offensive leadership, the immediate task is to build an attack that can finish drives with the quarterbacks available.