Dan Lanning addresses perceived quarterback battle between Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza

Dan Lanning shut down any notion of a quarterback battle between Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza this weekend. Indiana travels to Eugene for a top 10 matchup in the Big Ten with two high level QBs at this stage of the season.

There’s no doubt both QBs are the enticing part of the matchup this weekend. But Lanning and Curt Cignetti, on the opposite sideline, are guiding undefeated teams. It’s about more than just one player.

Not to mention the fact Lanning challenged the notion of quarterback vs. quarterback. They aren’t on the field at the same time.

“Well, he’ll never be on the field the same time as Mendoza,” Lanning said. “Mendoza will never be on the field the same time as him, and so all he has to do is go out there and play his game, and the rest of the rest will take care of itself. He’s competing to be the best version of himself, he’s not competing against him.”

It’s hard to argue with Moore’s success right now. He’s on pace to shatter his freshman year totals at UCLA prior to his transfer. Moore has 1,210 yards, 14 touchdowns, one interception and a 74.6% completion percentage.

On the flip side, Mendoza is lighting it up as well after transferring from Cal. He has 1,208 yards, 16 touchdowns, one interception and a 73% completion percentage.

Moore is coming off arguably his best game of the season, a monster performance in an overtime win at Penn State. He threw for 248 yards and three scores, while also rushing for 35 yards in the contest.

“Yeah, I give all the glory to God,” Moore said. “Ever since I could say, you know, seventh grade when I got my first offers, from that day on it’s kind of been things, media, people talking about me. And it’s been just true blessings because everything in my life was never just given to me. I had to work for it. I just know with my hard work and dedication to the game of football that things would come and fall in your hands.”

Yet the talented former five-star prospect humbly deflected much of the praise this week. For Moore, it’s all about the team goals.

“Overall these are all blessings, are all great things as a kid you dream of,” he said. “But overall I think Jabbar Muhammad said it best, team success, that’s when player success comes with it.

“I feel like overall we’re 1-0 every week is our mindset as a team. Without the receivers, without the O-linemen not giving up any sacks, without the people around me I would never have what I have now. So overall I feel like none of these things are coming or just stuff I’m doing with myself. It’s a team thing. But it’s just blessings, though. Like I said, I give the glory to God.”