Dan Lanning issued a statement on Sunday confirming that his star quarterback, Dante Moore, did suffer a concussion during the 2nd quarter of Oregon’s game at USC on Saturday night.
But there was a sliver of hope in the Oregon head coach’s statement, as Lanning added that there were no additional injuries suffered by Moore when he was brutally hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II while trying to slide. Moore was forced to leave the Coliseum in an ambulance.
Stephens was ejected from the game for targeting while the game was delayed for about 15 minutes with Moore being evaluated on the field. USC took immediate action on Stephens on Sunday, with USC head coach Lincoln Riley suspending Stephens for 1 game for knocking Moore unconscious.
While Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola rallied the shaken but not deterred Ducks on Saturday night in a rousing 41-27 road victory, the team’s attention was all about Moore and his condition in the aftermath of such a devastating hit.
Lanning confirmed that Moore had suffered a concussion but also made sure to say there were no additional injuries as the Ducks try to press on in their pursuit of a national title.
The Oregon head coach said, in part, in his statement on Sunday:
Every concussion is different and we are going to move forward with an abundance of caution to ensure we make the best decisions for Dante and his future.
Oregon was able to survive on Saturday night with its backup quarterback leading the way, as it keeps its eyes on a College Football Playoff spot. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the Ducks’ chances to come all the way back from that Week 2 loss and make the Playoff:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
