Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Addresses Dante Moore Injury After Wisconsin Win

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore left the game vs. Wisconsin in the third quarter after a hard hit and a very bloody nose. After the 21-7 victory over the Badgers, Oregon coach Dan Lanning addressed Moore's injury and the severity of it.

oregon ducks dante moore injury nose head medical tent wisconsin rain autzen stadium dan lanning brock thomas quarterback nfl | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks hosted the Wisconsin Badgers on a rainy night in Eugene, turning Autzen Stadium into a slippery battleground for the Big Ten showdown. After a sluggish offensive first half, Oregon managed to eke out just a 7-0 lead, leaving fans anxious as the Ducks struggled to find rhythm against a resilient Badgers defense.

Then, anxieties rose.

In the third quarter, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore left the field for the medical tent after taking a hit to the head. Moore was struck in the helmet during a tackle, and his nose appeared to be bleeding heavily. The injury immediately raised concern among fans, who watched as trainers quickly attended to him.

Backup quarterback Brock Thomas took over in his place.

oregon ducks dante moore injury nose head medical tent wisconsin rain autzen stadium dan lanning brock thomas quarterback nfl | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Addresses Dante Moore Injury

After the game, Oregon coach Dan Lanning addressed Moore's injury and said they probably could have put him back in the game but felt it was a good opportunity for Thomas to step up.

"Dante (Moore) got dinged. Think he's gonna be in great shape," Lanning said.

"I think we could have pushed to get him back in, but he's gonna be good. He had a bloody nose, he got hit pretty good, but it looks like he's in great shape," Lanning continued.

The change in quarterback added a new layer of tension to the closer-than-expected game, testing Oregon’s depth and Thomas' readiness in a high-pressure situation.

Moore spent about 15 minutes in the tent before emerging with his helmet on. He did not re-enter the game. The video of the play is below.

The play where Dante Moore got hit in the face/nose.

Looks like contact made through his helmet on the tackle. He is in the medical tent.

Backup QB Brock Thomas is in. https://t.co/ZnIhXrwrzz pic.twitter.com/WHDvLVFrM9

— Bri Amaranthus (@BriAmaranthus) October 26, 2025

Before leaving the game, Moore was 9-of-15 for 86 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He added four carries but lost 13 rushing yards.

Oregon now has a bye week, which should benefit Moore after the hard hit. Then, the Ducks travel to play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Nov. 8.

Backup Quarterback Brock Thomas

Thomas is a redshirt sophomore from Eugene, Oregon. He attended Sheldon High School, the same school that former Oregon quarterback and current Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert went to.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning revealed that Thomas has won the backup role over returners Austin Novosad and Luke Moga.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore arrives at the stadium as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Back in April, Lanning sat down with Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus to discuss Moore’s personality and approach. Moore, who transferred from UCLA to Oregon in December 2023, immediately caught Lanning’s attention with his patience and work ethic while learning behind Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel.

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The coach praised Moore’s ability to stay focused and adapt, highlighting the leadership qualities that made him a standout addition to the Ducks’ roster.

“Dante has all the ability in the world, has the arm talent,” Lanning told Amaranthus. “I’ve been really pleased with his intelligence to get us checked into a positive play."

oregon ducks dante moore injury nose head medical tent wisconsin rain autzen stadium dan lanning brock thomas quarterback nfl | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

"He's calm, collected. He plays with a swagger out there, which I think you want to have in a quarterback. He's done a really, really good job of that… He has a mentality right now about how he wants to go attack things,”

Moore has shown patience throughout his collegiate career, and it is proving to pay off with his performance. Heading into week 9, Moore has passed for 1,686 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has thrown just four interceptions and has a completion percentage of 72.3. Moore has also rushed for 144 yards, and he is showing good decision-making, which is leading to big wins for the Ducks.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore warms up as the Oregon Ducks host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 6, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images