A month after Oregon football'sDante Moore suffered a concussion on a violent hit against USC, coach Dan Lanning said Oct. 26 he anticipates the star quarterback will miss the rest of the 2026 season.
Moore was hit in the head by USC's Desman Stephens II while sliding after a scramble in the first half of the Ducks' 41-27 win Sept. 26 in Los Angeles. The quarterback was down on the field for several minutes before having to be taken off the field on a stretcher and then taken out of the stadium in an ambulance.
Over the last month, Lanning has deflected questions on whether Moore would return this season and his injury status, other than that Moore has been practicing with the team.
During his weekly press conference ahead of Oregon's home game against Northwestern, Lanning said that if it were up to Moore and Lanning, the senior would be playing, but that the situation is "out of our territory."
"Really got clarity for us this past week for him," Lanning said. "I think if it was up to Dante, in any shape, way, he would want to be out there playing for the guys, but unfortunately, it’s not really up to Dante. It’s not really up to me. We can control the setting at practice where he’s able to do things for us, where that’s not always the case in a game."
Lanning said he still expects Moore to make a full recovery and that it would be "unfair" for him to speak on whether Moore would return to Oregon for a fifth collegiate season or if the senior would turn pro.
Moore will continue to practice this season for the Ducks.
"I can tell you we’re getting one of the best scout team quarterback looks every single week in practice," Lanning said. "He looks good out there, but there’s a reality that I’m not a professional to be able to recognize."
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com.
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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Dante Moore not anticipated to make Oregon football return in 2026