Kirk Herbstreit tabs Oregon QB Dante Moore as Heisman favorite after John Mateer injury

John Mateer looked destined to hoist the Heisman Trophy this season, but a hand injury threw a wrench into those plans. With Mateer sidelined, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit has turned his attention to another young star — Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.

During a segment on ESPN’s College GameDay, Herbstreit was asked who the new Heisman favorite might be following Mateer’s setback. Rather than give a lengthy explanation, Herbstreit simply pointed towards Moore’s name — much to the dismay of the Penn State crowd gathered near the set.

It’s not difficult to see why Herbstreit is so high on the Ducks’ signal-caller. In his first year as the full-time starter, Moore has impressed with poise and production. Through the first month of the season, he’s thrown for 11 touchdowns and 962 yards while being intercepted just once.

He’s also shown some mobility, adding 87 rushing yards. Just as importantly, Oregon remains undefeated, a key ingredient for any legitimate Heisman contender.

Moore’s profile could rise even higher this weekend when the Ducks head into one of the toughest environments in college football — a Saturday night White Out at No. 3 Penn State. The matchup will mark the first ranked test for Moore with Oregon, and all eyes will be on how he responds to the pressure.

Herbstreit clearly believes Moore has the tools to shine. Speaking earlier Saturday morning on SportsCenter, he laid out the blueprint for how Moore and Oregon can find success against a Penn State defense that has surrendered only two touchdowns all year.

“We know what he can do,” Herbstreit said. “Look at the throws. It’s enough to really get excited about Oregon’s potential because of the weapons around him and the decisions he’s made up to this point in this brief season. But again, what can he do?

“Fast pace, quick throws, try to take advantage of any space he can find. Then, once the game gets going and he settles in, just let him be him. That’s a big part of their vertical pass game—Dante Moore and his arm strength, his ability to create. Penn State will have their hands full defensively.”

The stakes are high for both programs. Saturday’s contest doubles as a rematch of the 2024 Big Ten Championship, which Oregon won before earning the top overall seed in the College Football Playoff. Penn State, meanwhile, went on to reach the semifinal. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, setting the stage for another massive showdown in Happy Valley.

If Moore rises to the occasion and leads Oregon to victory, Herbstreit may have been ahead of the curve in tabbing him as the next Heisman frontrunner. Either way, this matchup should offer the clearest look yet at just how good the Ducks’ young quarterback can be under the brightest lights.

— On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article.