Oregon QB Dante Moore won't return this season from his concussion

The Ducks' starting quarterback for the 2026 season, Dante Moore, will not participate in any of the final five games. Coach Dan Lanning made the announcement on Monday evening, confirming that Moore had been sidelined since suffering a concussion against USC on September 26. Oregon had already lost to Illinois in Week 8, which all but eliminated them from College Football Playoff contention.

In response to the loss, Lanning fired first-year offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, who had been brought in to replace Will Stein, who had taken the Kentucky head coaching position. Moore, a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, returned to Oregon following the Ducks' playoff elimination. Though his return and other returning talent boosted Oregon to a No. 2 ranking in the AP poll, the team now faces the challenge of simply aiming for a bowl game.

Prior to the injury, Moore had a strong 2026 campaign, completing 69 of 99 passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns. Over the entire 2025 season, he threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, marking his first full season as the Ducks' starter. The 2025 season also marked his first full year on the Oregon roster, following his freshman year at UCLA in 2023.

Under the NCAA's five-in-five rule, Moore retains the opportunity to return to school for a fifth and final year of college football in 2027.