Oregon's Dan Lanning talks Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola, spring football

Dan Lanning showed up to his first media availability of the 2026 spring season wearing sunglasses that he never took off during a 20-minute interview session — indoors — March 12 at the Hatfield Dowlin Complex.

The Oregon football coach wasn’t trying to statement.

“I had a little eye procedure, so my eyes are dilated here,” he said with a smile at the very end. “So I apologize. I’m not trying to look cool, I promise you. They told me to keep my shades on.”

Truthfully, the future is bright for the Ducks, with their starting quarterback returning, tons of talent at skill positions, a starting defensive line that remained intact over the offseason and the nation’s third-ranked recruiting class coming on board.

Thursday, Lanning got his initial look at next season’s team during the first of 15 practices leading into the April 25 spring game at Autzen Stadium.

“It’s always hard to grade day one,” Lanning said. “What you’re really looking for is effort and execution because we’re not in full pads yet. But I saw guys running to the ball, moving with purpose, doing a good job today out there on the field.”

Dan Lanning talks Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola and the new QB room

The most significant roster development of the offseason for the Ducks wasn’t an addition, it was a retention.

Oregon’s chances of returning to the CFP for a third-straight season increased significantly when Moore announced his decision to return for his redshirt junior season.

Moore threw for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and completed 71.6% of his passes (296 for 412) in 2025, his first season as a starter for the Ducks.

“He’s got to level up, right?” Lanning said. “But he’s certainly stepping up from a leadership standpoint. He’s a coach on the field. He’s able to take advantage of that.”

Before Moore announced his decision to stay at Oregon, the Ducks added Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola, a two-year starter for the Cornhuskers and a former top-10 overall recruit who has thrown for 4,819 yards, 31 TDs and 17 interceptions in his career.

Raiola’s 2025 season ended early when he broke is right fibula against USC on Nov. 1. Raiola is still working his way back to 100% health this spring.

“He was able to practice with us today,” Lanning said. “We’re being conscientious of where he’s at as he comes back, but he’s pushing. And it’s new for him. He’s coming to a new system. But he’s learning it well. He’s definitely a cerebral player that can make the throws. So, very excited about where he’s at and where he’s continued to grow.”

Dan Lanning talks Peach Bowl loss and moving forward

The Ducks’ 2025 season came to an unceremonious end Jan. 9 in the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 56-22 loss to Indiana, the eventual CFP champion.

“We didn’t finish the way we wanted to,” Lanning said. “But there’s a lot of lessons learned. I think that film’s been watched a lot by all of us.”

Oregon ended the season with a 13-2 record — both losses coming against the Hoosiers — and returns 14 players who started in the Peach Bowl, including six who received all-Big Ten first-, second- or third-team honors by the media or conference coaches in Moore, center Iapani Laloulu, guard Dave Iuli, defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington, outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti and cornerback Brandon Finney Jr.

“What we accomplished last year has nothing to do with what we’re going to accomplish this year,” Lanning said. “But it allows you to say, ‘Ok, what can we add, what are the wrinkles we can adjust, how can we play off of our personnel … all those things play into it.”

Dan Lanning gives update on injured receiver Dillon Gresham

It was a year ago when wide receiver Dillon Gresham wowed the spring game crowd with three catches for 97 yards, including a 57-yard score. Afterward, Lanning called the redshirt freshman “probably one of our most improved players from this past season.”

Now the hope is Gresham gets another chance to just get on field.

The 6-0, 190-pound former consensus four-star recruit and top-200 player missed all of 2025 with an undisclosed injury, though he was often seen on the sideline on game day wearing a neck brace.

“It’s tough, and right now it’s still a little uncertain on his future,” Lanning said when asked about Gresham’s availability this spring. “But you know, he’s attacked it with the right mindset. I think football at some point ends for everybody and sometimes you hope it doesn’t end for a guy like Dillon as soon as it did last season. We’ll see what it continues to look like moving forward, but that’s an everyday battle. That’s a wake-up call for anybody out there playing ball. It can be taken away from you in a second.”

Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at chansen@registerguard.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon’s Dan Lanning talks Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola, spring football