Urgent: Dan Lanning Needs to Protect Dante Moore

The Indiana football team visit to Autzen Stadium on October 11, 2025, was described by all three CBS announcers as a “very physical game,” and those comments came at half time. The statistics favored Indiana, as did the 30-20 final score. However, there was a game-changing element that has been rarely discussed about that game that could impact Friday’s result.

Indiana had three 75 yard drives for touchdowns after an Oregon score, and Oregon had one 51 yard drive for a TD following a kickoff return. Oregon also scored on a Brandon Finney pick-6 early in the fourth quarter. Field goals, Indiana 3/3, Oregon 2/3.

College football coaches have a variety of temperament. I would describe Oregon head coach Dan Lanning as calm, while Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has a relatively constant facial expression of eating nails. As the game progressed it was apparent that the officials were letting the players play without calling some rules infractions unless it was obvious.

Just under the half-way mark of the second quarter, from the Indiana 34-yard line, third down and one yard to go, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza threw a pass where Duck DB Brandon Finney made a play described by the CBS announcers as follows: “Back shoulder throw. That should be holding or interference.” “I don’t see a flag, Holy cow.” “That should be a penalty, shouldn’t it? Looks like he was draped all over him, Brandon Finney.” “Let’s take a look. (Replay) Oh, that should be a penalty.” The rules “expert” was called in and agreed that it should have been a penalty. Any objective observer would agree.

Curt Cignetti was immediately on the field, nose to nose with the sideline official in a manner reminiscent of Yankee Manager Billy Martin kicking infield dirt on an umpire’s shoes. He waved his arms in a war dance that drew a flag. But the call was “sideline interference” with only a warning. All three announcers agreed Cignetti’s behavior was worthy of a larger penalty but that the officials scaled it down, supposedly because they viewed the on-field TV screen and knew Cignetti was right about Finney’s pass defense.

The next snap brought Indiana a five-yard penalty for “false start”; the Hoosiers’ third such infraction and there were more later. Each time the Hoosiers’ O-line jumped it was in seeming response to a Duck defensive line shift and the announcers commented that the penalty should have been on the Ducks. The defensive shifting infraction was not called in the game. The announcers also said that Alabama and Georgia, where Dan Lanning formerly coached, both used that late defensive shift to draw a penalty for false start.

Late in the second quarter, when there were only 24 seconds left on the clock, “Automaticus” Sappington made a rare field goal miss from 36 yards. That gave Indiana the ball from just inside their 20-yard line. Even though they had two times out remaining, it looked as if the teams would go into the locker room deadlocked at 10-10.

With Oregon expecting a pass, a running play gained 14 yards, followed by a pass to the sideline garnering another 11 by Elijah Sarratt’s diving catch. He was ruled inbounds, so Cignetti quickly used a time out. Only 13 seconds remained in the half, and the ball was at the Indiana 45-yard line.

Mendoza returned from the sideline time-out confab making the sign of the cross. His prayer was about to be answered.

Running to his right Mendoza made an off-balance throw five yards short of his receiver who was falling backward as OBD linebacker Devon Jackson touched his chest. The first pass interference flag of the game flew on an uncatchable pass with negligible contact. The questionable call put the ball at the Indiana 48 yard-line, seemingly beyond field goal range. But Brendan Franke’s 58-yard attempt made it inside the left upright.

Halftime passing stats on the TV screen had Mendoza at 10/15 for 110 yards, and Dante Moore 11/17, 123 yards and one TD. The game was close at 13-10, Hoosiers.

With 9:08 left in the third quarter the Indiana pass rush began hitting Dante Moore after he released the ball. He was double teamed, one low, the other high, well after his throw. The color announcer said: “Pretty aggressive by IU, they’re talking about letting them play physical man to man.” On the next play Moore is hit again, low. “A late hit low” the color announcer said. Both agreed it was a late hit. They noticed that Moore got up limping. (Screenshot at top of article)

The NCAA rules state the following about protection of a defenseless quarterback:

ILLEGAL CONTACT AGAINST A QUARTERBACK/PASSER

Because of their position, the passer is often in a vulnerable position, with little or no opportunity to protect themselves from, or to prepare for, forcible contact. In recognition of this, there is an explicit rule (Rule 9-1-9) which addresses this unique situation: ‘No defensive player shall unnecessarily rough a passer when it is obvious the ball has been thrown.’

The rule then lists several specific acts which are illegal when they occur against a passer or potential passer. The NCAA Football Rules Committee over time has given options for the quarterback to protect himself, such as sliding feet first and to legally throw the ball away outside the tackle box.

The definition of a defenseless player-passer has been expanded to include an offensive player in a passing posture with focus downfield, even if a pass is not thrown. Because of the extremely vulnerable situation the quarterback position presents, it is important for all officials, and the Referee and the Center Judge in particular, to be a presence and recognize when a passer is threatened or is in a defenseless position. The crew must make it a priority to afford the quarterback all the protection the rules provide.” (Emphasis added.)

After Sappington kicked a field goal, Indiana’s second touchdown drive was assisted by a PI call against Jordan Canady with 6:29 remaining in the third quarter. Another PI call just inside the goal line on Ify Obidegwu assured the Hoosier TD on a nine-play 75-yard drive. Score, IU 20-13.

Near the end of the third quarter Moore is again knocked to the ground by onrushing defenders on a play where Malik Benson wanted a PI call, but none came.

With 6:23 left in the game Saratt scored on a Mendoza pass after pushing off Obidegwu. No offensive PI call.

Moore’s pass at 6:03 was tipped and intercepted. Indiana’s third field goal ended the scoring at 30-20.

There can be little dispute that Cignetti’s confrontation with the officials changed the officials’ calls on Oregon defenders for pass interference in this game.

My suggestion is that when Cignetti’s players use the same tactic of hitting Dante Moore while he is vulnerable after passing, in violation of the above quoted passage from NCAA rules, Dan Lanning take a page from Cignetti’s book. He should call a time out and get out on the field in the faces of the Referee and the Center Judge and let them know that they: “ . . . must make it a priority to afford the quarterback all the protection the rules provide.” He might also use the pregame conference with the officials to hand them a highlighted copy of the rule.

People say that Dante Moore has “happy feet”. They need to consider that Dante is constantly a target for 300+ pound defensive linemen who have little or no regard for NCAA rules when it comes to crushing a quarterback. In this game he was sacked six times plus being illegally knocked to the ground at least that many. He needs Lanning’s protection.

Mike Whitty
Eugene, Oregon
Top Screenshot from CBS Sports Video

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