The Dante Moore concussion has handed No. 15 Oregon an unexpected test of its quarterback depth. Moore was hurt on a late hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens in the second quarter of the Ducks’ 41-27 win at USC on Saturday, Sept. 26, and backup Dylan Raiola finished the game, The Associated Press reported.
The question facing coach Dan Lanning is not whether Oregon can win without Moore for a game or two. Raiola’s performance answered that. It is whether the Ducks can sustain a playoff push if the injury keeps their star out longer than expected.
What the Dante Moore concussion evaluation revealed
Moore was sliding at the end of an 11-yard run to the USC 12 when Stephens hit him in the head and chest with his shoulder, according to the AP. Moore’s helmet snapped back into the turf, and he left the field on a stretcher with his neck in a brace before being taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Oregon announced Sunday that Moore sustained a concussion and that his MRI and CT scans were clean. “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,” Lanning said in a statement.
Moore’s only injury was the concussion, and he is expected to return before the end of the season, CBS Sports reported. Oregon has not given a timeline.
Stephens was ejected for targeting, and USC suspended him for one game for the hit and for celebrating afterward. He later apologized in a statement released by the school and will miss No. 18 USC’s home game against Washington, per the AP. Lanning had called the hit “disgusting” after the game, and USC coach Lincoln Riley said Stephens’ actions were “unacceptable and are not reflective of USC football.”
The Dante Moore concussion news could have been worse. Lanning thanked Oregon’s medical staff, USC’s staff and LA General for their quick care.
The backup situation: Better than expected
Oregon’s roster building suddenly looks smart. When Raiola transferred from Nebraska, he accepted the chance that he would be a backup in 2026 if Moore returned to school. Moore did return rather than enter an NFL draft in which CBS Sports projected him as a likely top-10 pick, leaving Oregon with a two-year Big Ten starter behind him.
Raiola’s performance after the Dante Moore concussion erased doubts about his readiness. He completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, finished the red-zone drive Moore started with a touchdown pass and led five touchdown drives, according to CBS Sports.
The loss still stings. Moore had thrown for 849 yards in Oregon’s first three games, including 378 in the opener against Boise State, per ESPN.
The Big Ten schedule complication
Oregon (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) already has a loss, 39-31 at Oklahoma State on Sept. 12, which leaves little margin in the playoff race. The timing does help: the Ducks are off this weekend before hosting No. 23 UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 10, according to the AP and ESPN. Nebraska, Raiola’s former team, visits Eugene on Oct. 17, and a road trip to Ohio State is still ahead, CBS Sports noted.
Lanning told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday that Oregon would not rush Moore back, Yahoo Sports reported, and that the Ducks are comfortable starting Raiola if needed.
What’s next for Oregon after the Dante Moore concussion
The open date gives Moore two weeks before the UCLA game to work through concussion protocol. If he is cleared, Oregon’s title hopes look intact. If not, Raiola gets the start, and his play becomes the difference in a Big Ten race with little room for error.
For more, read about Moore’s decision to return for 2026, our Ohio State-Iowa preview and the latest college football news.
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