Oregon Coach Lanning Says Quarterback Dante Moore Will Miss Rest of 2026 Season

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning announced on Monday night that quarterback Dante Moore will not return to the field for the remainder of the 2026 season. Lanning spoke to reporters at his weekly press conference to deliver the update on the injured starter.

Moore suffered a concussion during a late hit while playing against the University of Southern California on September 26. Lanning said Moore is continuing to progress and is expected to make a full recovery. However, the coach stated that Moore is not expected to see game action before the season concludes.

The Ducks are currently in fourth place in their conference standings with a 4-3 record. The team entered this campaign as the No. 2 overall team in the country, carrying national championship aspirations. That season has since included a loss to Illinois earlier this weekend.

In the same week as the Illinois defeat, Lanning dismissed offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. Mehringer had served on the coaching staff since 2022. Lanning noted that Moore has been practicing with the team recently. He explained that the coaching staff can control the environment in practice more easily than in a game against a different opponent.

Moore was a projected top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft after the 2025 season but chose to return to Eugene. In the four games he played this season, Moore threw for 926 yards and nine touchdowns. Last year, he recorded 3,565 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. Those performances helped lead the Ducks to the College Football Playoff Semifinals, where they lost to the eventual champion Indiana team.

Moore has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining after this season.