Dante Moore has spoken, and the message was simple: he expects to be back.
The Oregon quarterback posted his first public update after the frightening hit that sent him off the field on a stretcher during Saturday’s win over USC, and he framed the last two days as painful but moving in the right direction. Moore said he’s leaning on faith, his teammates, and the people around him as he works through the concussion that forced him out in the second quarter.
“To my team, the community, and to the World, thank you. These past 2 days have been very difficult, but through all of your prayers I have made progress.
There’s times I question myself and the Lord and say Why now? but I quickly remember Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
I can only worry about today, and making sure I give today it’s full attention. I’ll be back soon.
Go Ducks!”
The injury came after Moore scrambled for an 11-yard gain and started to slide. USC linebacker Desman Stephens came in late with a shoulder-to-helmet hit that officials ruled targeting. Stephens was thrown out of the game and later suspended for one game by the Trojans.
Moore’s post arrived after Oregon confirmed that both his MRI and CT scans came back clean. Coach Dan Lanning said the program is taking an abundance of caution and noted that Moore did not suffer any additional injuries beyond the concussion. ESPN reported Lanning’s point that every concussion is different, and that Oregon will put Moore’s long-term health first.
Medical staff worked on Moore for about 15 minutes before he was placed on a stretcher. He was taken by ambulance to Los Angeles General Medical Center for evaluation, then later flew back to Eugene with movement in all extremities.
In the game itself, backup Dylan Raiola stepped in and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon held off USC, 41-27. The win kept the Ducks’ title hopes alive.
Now Oregon gets a bye week, which gives Moore extra time to move through concussion protocol. The next possible return window is against UCLA on Oct. 10 if he clears in time.
In Other News...
USC Now Faces One Costly Question After The Oregon Loss
The loss to Oregon left USC with more than just a mark in the standings. In a top-20 showdown that ended 41-27, the Trojans got production from a few key places, including wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who paced the offense with seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, and running back King Miller, who added 74 rushing yards. On defense, Jahkeem Stewart was back in the lineup, giving USC another body in a game that demanded everything.
Desman Stephens IIs ejection for targeting added another layer to an already costly afternoon, especially after the hit that injured Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. USC has spent enough time this season trying to piece together consistency, and games like this tend to sharpen the bigger question around discipline and availability as much as execution. The Trojans left with the more immediate concern of what the loss means in the moment, but also with the kind of looming issue that can shape the next stretch if it is not cleaned up quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Locksley Is Suddenly In A Conversation Maryland Fans Dread
Week 4 brought a fresh round of anxiety to the coaching carousel, and Marylands Mike Locksley suddenly finds himself in the kind of conversation Terrapin fans have been trying to avoid. A rough loss has turned the spotlight on a coach who entered the season with expectations attached and now sits in a crowded group of Power Four leaders feeling the heat, with the calendar still early enough for things to change but late enough for every slip to matter.
Locksley is hardly alone in that uneasy space, with South Carolinas Shane Beamer, Florida States Mike Norvell and Colorados Deion Sanders among the names drawing scrutiny after a difficult weekend. For Maryland, the concern is less about one bad afternoon than what it signals about the trajectory ahead, and the next stretch of games will say plenty about whether the noise around Locksley is just a bad week or the start of a much louder debate. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Faces A USC Decision Fans Can't Ignore
The hit that sent Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to the hospital during USCs game against Oregon has put Desman Stephens and the Trojans in the middle of an ugly moment that has lingered well beyond the final whistle. Stephens celebrated after the collision and showed no remorse, and the reaction was swift, with calls growing for USC to suspend or dismiss him from the football program.
Lincoln Riley now faces the kind of decision that reaches beyond one player and into the standards of the program itself. The episode has sharpened questions about accountability and the culture around USC football, because this is no longer just about a controversial play, but about what the Trojans are willing to tolerate when the spotlight turns harsh. [Read more 🡒]