(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect) Jordan Sigler Thu, October 29, 2026 at 1:09 AM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon: New QB Emerges as Potential Option Amid Struggles
Earlier this week, Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning revealed that Dante Moore would not play again this season after suffering an injury from a hit he took against USC on Sept. 26.
It's unclear if Moore will return to college football in 2027 or enter the league's draft next spring.
While Moore's future is uncertain, so too is the future of the quarterback position at Oregon. The Ducks have played musical chairs with Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas since Moore's injury, but there could soon be a third quarterback added to the mix in the near future.
Sophomore quarterback Akili Smith Jr. went 2 of 4 passing for 31 yards in his only appearance this season in Oregon's 84-0 win over Portland State. Per Sports Illustrated, Ducks head coach Dan Lanning said there would be an " opportunity " for Smith to get more playing time this season as the 4-3 Ducks sort out the offense in the wake of firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Sunday.
Lanning wants to see more from Smith in practice before he gets more playing time. He believes Smith has shown growth this fall, but there are only so many opportunities he's had in practice as Thomas and Raiola have gotten more reps.
Smith is the son of Akili Smith Sr., who played quarterback at Oregon before becoming the No. 3 pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Akili Smith Jr. was a four-star recruit in 2025.
Oregon entered the season with a No. 2 ranking and the expectations of competing for a national championship. That's all off the table after a third loss of the season before November.
The rest of the season should be about building for the future, especially with Moore not returning and Mehringer gone.
Why not give Akili an opportunity to gain some experience this season? The Ducks are going to need a quarterback battle next year. Raiola has had his good moments, but it's not clear if he can play at a consistent enough level that Oregon needs at the position.
There will be plenty of opportunities for the Ducks to experiment through its next five games and potentially a bowl contest.
One would assume Oregon will pull out all the stops to beat No. 20 Northwestern on Saturday and No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 7. The Ducks then finish their schedule against Michigan, Michigan State, and Washington.
If they add more losses to their record before playing Michigan, it might be time to give Akili more opportunities.
Source: Sports
