Dan Lanning’s update on Dante Moore didn’t come with a firm timetable, but it did bring Oregon a dose of calm after a jarring scene in Los Angeles.
Moore was carted off on a stretcher and taken to a hospital after a targeting hit against USC, and the immediate concern was bigger than the Ducks’ next depth chart move. The question was whether Oregon’s starting quarterback was all right. Lanning said the program is still working through the evaluation process, but his words were reassuring.
“Still going through the process there with him, so it's great to know that he's healthy and doing well. But still, continue to evaluate that,” Lanning said.
He also said on the Pat McAfee show just a few days after the injury, “it’s one of those situations where we got to protect a player from himself."
The timing matters here. Oregon is in its bye week, which gives Moore extra recovery time before the Ducks return to the field and begin a stretch of eight straight Big Ten regular season games. It also gives the coaching staff a chance to prepare for either version of the offense: one with Moore, and one with Dylan Raiola.
That flexibility already proved valuable against USC. Raiola entered with Oregon trailing 7-3 in the second quarter and helped steer the Ducks to a 41-27 win, finishing 19 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
That performance only sharpened the sense that Oregon made a major portal move when it landed the former five-star quarterback. There’s a difference between simply having a backup and having someone who can walk into a road game and help you win it. Raiola did exactly that.
The Ducks’ next game is Oct. 10 against UCLA at Autzen Stadium, followed by Nebraska’s trip to Eugene on Oct. 17.
That Nebraska matchup could carry a personal twist for Raiola if Moore is still unavailable, since it would put him against the program he left to join Oregon. That scenario depends entirely on how Moore’s recovery goes.
After that, Oregon’s schedule tightens up quickly:
Oct. 24: Oregon at Illinois
Oct. 31: Oregon hosts Northwestern
Nov. 7: Oregon at Ohio State
Nov. 14: Oregon hosts Michigan
Nov. 20 (Friday): Oregon at Michigan State
Nov. 28: Oregon hosts Washington
Lanning has talked before about the value of building quarterback depth, and this situation shows why. Earlier this year, he said, “There's a formula.
And we've had a lot of guys come here and be able to execute that formula. I think it's a great learning experience for both those guys and in our league, you never know when you need another quarterback,” Lanning said.
Evan Stewart echoed the buzz around Raiola’s talent earlier this year, pointing to how familiar he already was with the quarterback’s game.
"Dylan is amazing, honestly. I trained with Dylan before he even got here, his first year in Nebraska.
Whenever I was transferring to Oregon, I was training with Dylan in Dallas, and I knew he had an arm on him, because I was throwing with Dante, too, in spring ball. So when I came back and threw with (Raiola), I was like, you know what, he kind of felt like Dante.
So pretty amazing," Stewart said.
That connection showed up on the field against USC, when Stewart caught Raiola’s first touchdown pass just one play after Moore’s injury.
For Oregon, the bigger picture is clear: the Ducks have a quarterback room built to survive the unexpected. Lanning’s “next man up” approach fits this moment perfectly, and Raiola has already shown he can do more than keep things afloat.
Moore transferred from UCLA after spending a season behind Dillon Gabriel, learned the offense, and was ready to take over in 2025, when he led Oregon to the College Football Playoff Semifinal. In 2026, he could have gone to the NFL as a projected first-round pick, but instead chose to stay in Eugene for what the source describes as “unfinished business.”
Now, as Moore moves through concussion protocol, Oregon has an experienced answer waiting if it needs one.
In Other News...
Oregon Freshman Turned A Scary USC Moment Into A Statement Win
At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Oregon freshman receiver Messiah Hampton found himself at the center of a tense moment after USC linebacker Desman Stephens II hit quarterback Dante Moore in the head. Hampton reacted angrily and went straight at Stephens before teammates, referees and coach Dan Lanning stepped in to separate the sides, underscoring just how heated the game had become in a hurry.
Moore stayed on the field briefly before leaving in an ambulance, turning what had already been a physical contest into a far more serious sideline scene for the Ducks to absorb. Even with that scare hanging over the night, Oregon found a way to keep playing and rallied for the win behind backup quarterback Dylan Raiola, turning a frightening moment into one the Ducks could carry as proof of their resilience. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Sees One Defensive Problem Oregon Must Fix Fast
Dan Lanning liked enough of what Oregon showed in its win over USC to feel encouraged, but the tape still left him with a clear area to clean up. The Ducks did a good job limiting third-down conversions, yet the defense gave up too many explosive plays, especially through the air, which made the game feel far more open than Oregon would have preferred.
The secondary had moments to build on, but the safeties were also exposed in coverage as USC hit on multiple long receptions. With the bye week now arriving, Oregon has a little extra time to tighten those issues before turning its attention to UCLA, and the next stretch will show how quickly the Ducks can turn that concern into a fix. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Bye Week Puts Pressure On A Few Ducks To Earn More
The bye week has given Oregon a chance to keep working, and it has also sharpened the spotlight on a few Ducks who need to make more of the snaps they get. Sophomore tight end Andrew Olesh, freshman running back Brandon Smith and junior defensive back Aaron Scott Jr. are all part of a wider conversation around playing time, production and how quickly young players can carve out larger roles on a deep roster.
With UCLA up next, the Ducks are using this week to sort through those rotation questions while staying focused on the Bruins. Dan Lanning has already weighed in on the matchup, but the bigger subplot is what comes next for players trying to climb the depth chart, especially with transfer portal decisions always lingering in the background for those who want more opportunity. [Read more 🡒]