Oregon has ruled out quarterback Dante Moore for Saturday’s game against No. 21 UCLA because of concussion protocol, Fox Sports reported. Dylan Raiola will make his first start for the Ducks in Moore’s place at Autzen Stadium.
Moore sustained the concussion on a late hit from USC linebacker Desman Stephens in the second quarter of Oregon’s 41-27 win on Sept. 26. He was placed on a stretcher and left the stadium in an ambulance. Moore has since returned to practice with the team, but he was listed as out on the league’s availability report and must still clear several benchmarks before he can play in a game.
Dante Moore Ruled Out, UCLA To Face Raiola
Oregon coach Dan Lanning did not put a timeline on Moore’s return, focusing instead on his teammate’s wellbeing. “I think the biggest thing is just being able to see a smile on his face to get around and be around his teammates and his brothers and do that at a high level,” Lanning said. “Everybody has a smile on their face getting to see Dante out there with us this week, and it’s been fun seeing him compete.”
No further update on Moore’s recovery timeline has been given beyond his return to practice and the remaining protocol steps.
Raiola Steps In As Starter
Raiola does not enter Saturday’s game cold. He relieved Moore against USC and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns in that outing. Across his two appearances this season, Raiola has completed passes for 413 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Lanning credited the quarterback room’s practice habits for Raiola’s readiness. “He had an expectation when he stepped out there on the field and performed at a really, really high level, and everybody had confidence in him because they see him do it a lot in practice,” Lanning said. “You get a lot of reps in practice, regardless of where you’re sitting.”
Lanning also acknowledged the adjustment Raiola has had to make in Oregon’s scheme compared to his previous system. “It’s totally different systems than what he was running before, so I think you got to build confidence in the system, and that takes time, especially when you ask the quarterback to do as much as we ask the quarterback to do,” Lanning said. “Whether it’s checks on plays or just the length of a call, right?
It’s a little bit different. There’s a lot of variables in there, and it takes some time to get comfortable with it, even when you’re really cerebral and intelligent like Dylan is.”
Raiola said the team has moved past the USC outcome and is locked in on the matchup ahead. “Ultimately, the end of the day, our goal is to win and go 1-0 that week,” Raiola said.
Season Context For Raiola
Raiola transferred to Oregon after two seasons at Nebraska, where he started every game and passed for 4,819 yards with 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, according to USA Today. Nebraska went 0-5 against ranked opponents during his tenure there, and he faced pressure on 31.6% of his dropbacks against Power Four competition. He was among the highest-paid players in college football at Nebraska, reportedly earning $3.5 million, before committing to Oregon on Jan. 12.
Raiola’s history with UCLA carries extra weight. He suffered a broken fibula in a Nov. 1 loss to the Bruins last season that required surgery and ended his 2025 season at Nebraska.
UCLA’s Side Of The Matchup
UCLA coach Bob Chesney said his staff has prepared for either Oregon quarterback to take snaps. “They’re both very, very good football players. You can’t really think one way or the other who’s going to be out there and who’s not,” Chesney said.
“We’ve got to prepare for both. But really, the good thing is that it’s not like the second kid can’t throw and is only a runner and has to change everything we’re doing.”
UCLA brings a run game that ranks No. 4 nationally at 281.5 yards per game, led by Wayne Knight, who is tied for third nationally with nine rushing touchdowns. According to CBS Sports, the matchup represents a new level of competition for UCLA, which has not yet faced a team ranked in the top 60 of the CBS Sports 138 this season. More on that matchup is available in the UCLA vs Oregon preview.
What’s Next
Oregon hosts UCLA on Saturday at Autzen Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on CBS. Moore’s next update will come as he continues working through the concussion protocol benchmarks the team has outlined. For background on his injury and the earlier relief effort from Raiola, see the previous coverage of Dante Moore’s return to practice and Raiola’s relief performance against USC.
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