Northwestern to Face Oregon Team Without Star Starting Quarterback

Northwestern football received some major news regarding its upcoming opponent, as Oregon will be without its star quarterback for Saturday’s matchup at Autzen Stadium.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning announced Monday that starting quarterback Dante Moore is not expected to return for the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering a concussion against USC on September 26.

Moore has missed Oregon’s last three games and has not received medical clearance to return to game action.

The injury occurred during the second quarter against USC when Moore attempted to slide following a scramble before taking a late hit from linebacker Desman Stephens II. Moore remained on the field for an extended period before being transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

The news is an unfortunate development for Moore, who entered the season with high expectations after deciding to return to Oregon rather than enter the 2026 NFL Draft.

Widely considered a potential first-round selection, Moore entered the year as a preseason Heisman Trophy contender, while Oregon was ranked No. 2 nationally with championship aspirations.

Before his injury, Moore had completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions through four games.

His absence has been noticeable.

Oregon has gone 1-2 over its last three games, struggling to establish consistency offensively while failing to score more than 17 points in any of those contests.

The Ducks now sit at 4-3 following Saturday’s disappointing 21-10 loss to Illinois, a defeat that led to the firing of offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer.

Lanning has since announced that veteran offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, who had been serving as an analyst, will take over play-calling responsibilities.

That means Oregon will enter Saturday’s matchup against Northwestern without its starting quarterback and with a new offensive play-caller.

Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola appears to be the most likely option to start against the Wildcats, although Oregon has also utilized Brock Thomas in Moore’s absence.

Raiola has shown flashes of his ability, including leading Oregon to a comeback victory over Nebraska, but has also struggled with consistency.

For Northwestern, Moore’s absence certainly changes the outlook of Saturday’s matchup.

Instead of preparing to face one of college football’s most talented quarterbacks, the Wildcats will now face an Oregon offense attempting to establish a new identity.

That could provide an opportunity for Northwestern defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle and his unit, which has consistently found ways to pressure opposing quarterbacks and create turnovers this season.

However, the situation also presents an interesting challenge.

With Johnson taking over play-calling duties, Northwestern may have less certainty about the offensive formations, tendencies and strategies Oregon will use.

A new play-caller could introduce different concepts, place greater emphasis on the running game or find new ways to create explosive plays.

And for a Northwestern defense that has occasionally surrendered big plays this season, remaining disciplined will be especially important.

The Wildcats cannot afford to underestimate Oregon simply because Moore is unavailable.

Despite its recent struggles, Oregon still has talented offensive players, and playing at Autzen Stadium presents a difficult challenge for any visiting team.

Northwestern enters Saturday’s matchup at 6-1 and riding a four-game winning streak following its dominant 42-14 victory over Rutgers.

The Wildcats have looked like the more consistent team in recent weeks, but Oregon will be desperate to turn its season around in front of its home crowd.

While Moore’s absence removes a significant threat from the Ducks’ offense, the uncertainty surrounding Oregon’s new play-caller makes this matchup difficult to predict.

For Northwestern, the opportunity is clear.

The Wildcats have a chance to take advantage of an Oregon team dealing with major offensive changes and continue proving that their impressive start is no fluke.

But doing so will require another disciplined defensive performance against a talented opponent searching for a fresh start.