Oregon’s quarterback situation is still murky, and Dan Lanning’s latest update only turned up the heat around Dante Moore’s status.
After the Ducks got a look at the drop-off from Moore to the backups over the past two weeks, the answer at quarterback remains unsettled heading into the next game. Dylan Raiola was benched against UCLA after a rough three quarters, and Brock Thomas met the same fate Saturday night against Nebraska. Now Oregon is heading into another week without a clear read on who will line up under center.
On Saturday night, with the win over Nebraska still fresh, Lanning was asked about the quarterback room going into Illinois week. He wasted no time saying that Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas would keep battling for the starting job.
Dan Lanning says that that Brock Thomas and Dylan Raiola will continue to compete for who starts at QB next week.
- Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) October 18, 2026
That kind of answer can serve a little gamesmanship, but it also leaves a bigger question hanging over the Ducks: where does Moore stand? Lanning did not mention the possibility of Moore returning, and that silence makes it seem as though he is still a ways off.
Moore’s concussion against USC looked serious in real time. The fencing pose, the cart ride into an ambulance, and the trip to the hospital all made the injury feel far more severe than the usual week-to-week quarterback issue. There is no clean timetable with concussions, and Oregon has every reason to be careful.
The Ducks’ defense has started to settle in, but the offense has left little room for mistakes. If Moore can get back for the second half of the season, Oregon still has a path to salvage what began as a National Championship-level expectation. Without him, that path gets a lot narrower.
Illinois is next, and Oregon should still have enough to handle that matchup no matter who starts at quarterback. Bret Bielema’s group has slipped this season, and both teams could be shorthanded with Katin Houser out after surgery.
But the stretch after that is where the pressure really builds. Northwestern awaits on Halloween, and David Braun’s team has been playing well.
Then comes Ohio State, where Oregon may be staring at a backup quarterback situation on the other sideline too, with Julian Sayin’s injury in play. Ideally, that’s a game Moore would be back for.
For now, Oregon is just trying to hold things together until Moore can return. Each week he stays out, the Ducks get a little more exposed. November is going to decide where this season goes, and getting healthier would be a major step toward putting Oregon back in the race.
In Other News...
Dan Lanning Just Changed Oregons Biggest Nebraska Game Storyline
After a strong showing against USC, Dylan Raiola had a chance to settle in as Oregons quarterback of the moment, but the rhythm did not carry over into the next game against UCLA. The Ducks have now made a change under center, with Dan Lanning opting to go with Brock Thomas for the upcoming matchup against Nebraska. It is a significant turn for an offense that had been trying to build momentum heading into one of the more interesting games on the schedule.
Lanning pointed to Raiolas recent performance and the adjustments Oregon has made on offense as the reasons for the switch, putting the focus on stability rather than sentiment. For Raiola, the timing is especially notable because the Nebraska game had the feel of a personal one, given his connection to the Cornhuskers. Instead, Oregon heads into it with a different quarterback plan and a storyline that looks very different from what it did just a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Commit Brayton Feister Is Back On The Field Amid Dispute
Brayton Feister is back on the field at Massillon Washington High School after a ruling from the Fifth District Court of Appeals cleared the Oregon commit and his brother Brydon to continue playing their senior season. The decision overturned an earlier Ohio High School Athletic Association ruling that had declared both brothers ineligible, and it gives them the chance to keep contributing while the legal process plays out.
The Feisters had been sidelined after the OHSAA cited transfer and disciplinary issues, turning their season into as much a courtroom matter as a football one. The appeals court granted a preliminary permanent injunction, and while the association could still pursue further legal action, the immediate effect is straightforward for Oregon: one of its commits is back on the field, and the situation remains unresolved beyond that. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Trip To Ohio State Suddenly Looks Very Different
Ohio States quarterback picture changed quickly this week when coach Ryan Day said Julian Sayin is expected to be out for several weeks after suffering an injury. The Buckeyes are now likely to turn to freshman Luke Fahey for the upcoming stretch, including the game against Oregon, which adds a new wrinkle to a matchup that already had plenty of intrigue.
Oregons own quarterback situation remains unsettled, with Dante Moore, Brock Thomas or Dylan Raiola all possibilities depending on how things shake out. So instead of a familiar heavyweight showdown between established starters, the Ducks could find themselves preparing for a far less predictable test on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]