Oregon · Big TenDante Moore returns to practice as Oregon weighs UCLA start
Dylan Raiola is preparing to start against 4-0 UCLA after throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns in relief at USC.
OCT 7, 2026
UCLA record entering the matchup
Raiola passing yards against USC
Raiola completions against USC
01 · The NewsMoore Returns, QB Decision Lingers
On Monday, Dante Moore returned to Oregon practice in a helmet and shoulder pads after suffering a concussion at USC, a step forward that still left the Ducks’ quarterback decision open for Saturday, Oct. 10, against unbeaten UCLA.
Coach Dan Lanning said Moore threw during the session but did not disclose how much he practiced or where he stood in his recovery process. Moore must complete the required concussion process and gain approval to play.
“We're going to continue to make sure we do what's best for Dante as we move forward,” Lanning said.
Oregon has a ready alternative. Dylan Raiola replaced Moore in the 41-27 victory over USC and completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Lanning has told Raiola to prepare as though he will start.
UCLA is preparing for both quarterbacks. Bruins coach Bob Chesney said there is not a significant drop-off between Moore and Raiola, giving Oregon room to protect its starter without handing away the matchup.
The Ducks had a bye between the USC game and UCLA, putting nearly two weeks between Moore’s injury and the matchup. That calendar does not decide his return. The Big Ten availability report scheduled for Wednesday evening, Oct. 7, was expected to provide the next significant update.
Moore’s return to practice changed the picture without settling it. Raiola is preparing as though the decision will be his.
02 · The StakesThe Stakes
The decision reaches beyond one start. Oregon takes a 3-1 record into a matchup with 4-0 UCLA, and Josh Pate’s preseason bracket projected the Ducks as the No. 6 playoff team. Moore’s health now intersects directly with that projected playoff path.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
UCLA’s start makes Oregon’s quarterback cushion more valuable than the headline suggests. The Bruins are 4-0 after going 3-9 in 2025, already surpassing last season’s win total. Oregon, meanwhile, is 3-1 after finishing 13-2, so it has already absorbed half as many losses as it did all last season.
Raiola’s 19-of-25 relief performance gives the Ducks room to separate Moore’s medical clearance from the pressure created by UCLA’s record. That protection carries beyond Oct. 10: Oregon faces Nebraska on Oct. 17 and travels to Illinois on Oct. 24.
04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Will Dante Moore receive medical clearance to start against UCLA?
The answer determines whether Oregon uses its starter or turns the unbeaten Bruins over to Raiola after his 289-yard performance at USC. The Big Ten availability report Wednesday evening, Oct. 7, is the first scheduled indicator, though clearance still would not establish how much Moore practiced or guarantee he starts Saturday, Oct. 10.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Who is taking the first-team snaps?
Raiola is preparing as though he will start, while Moore has returned to practice and thrown during the session.
Is Moore cleared to play?
Moore must complete the required concussion process and gain approval to play; the Big Ten availability report was expected to provide the next significant update.