How the New Transfer Portal Window Could Shape Oregon’s QB Future

The NCAA’s recent move to eliminate the spring transfer portal could reshape Oregon’s quarterback future, with ripple effects that stretch into 2026.

The landscape of college football has been constantly evolving since the introduction of NIL and the season-by-season changes to the transfer portal depending on the most recent lawsuit from a player trying to gain more eligibility. On September 17^th the Division I Administrative Committee voted to eliminate the Spring transfer portal and move to a single transfer portal in January. 

The exact dates are not yet confirmed, but the initial proposal would open the portal on January 2^nd and would give players 10 days to enter their name, with no deadline to make a commitment. Players who are in the College Football Playoff would have 5 days to enter the portal after their final postseason game. 

How could this affect the Oregon Ducks? 

One name…. Austin Novosad. Whether Novosad decides to stay with the team or leave in the portal could have ripple effects in 2025 as well as 2026.

The new portal would potentially open just one day after the playoff quarterfinals. This leaves playoff teams facing the potential threat of losing key players before the semifinals or championship if they were to make it that far. Yes, the NCAA is giving players 5 extra days to enter the portal once their team is finished, but if a player is considering leaving, they might not want to risk injury if they’re hoping to transfer to a team that will give them snaps in 2026. 

So why should Oregon worry about this new portal window? Not even necessarily because of the 2025-2026 season. Novosad is a nice insurance policy in case Dante Moore goes down, but it’s the 2026 season that will be the most important factor in keeping the backup QB. 

Who will start at quarterback for the Ducks in 2026? Will it be Moore? I can’t imagine Novosad is going to want to stay another season as Moore’s backup, as it will be his redshirt Junior season. He has been patiently waiting on the bench for three seasons, and this will be his opportunity to go to another program and show what he can do….. But will Moore be back in 2026? That is far from a sure thing at this point, and that’s the problem.

Will Dante Moore return for 2026?

If you asked most fans and journalists before the 2025 season if Moore would be back in Oregon next season, I think most people would have said it was likely…. But that doesn’t seem like such a sure bet after four games. 

Joel Klatt recently ranked Moore as the third best QB in college football and said on his podcast that he was “really impressed” with Dante Moore. “I think this guy is going to wind up in New York as a Heisman finalist. He can do it all.” Klatt said. “Dante Moore is a sensational player… He is accurate, he plays on the right timing and in the right rhythm, and with the proper balance to throw the ball really well down the field. They got weapons everywhere. He’s very smart, gets them into the right play constantly. Their offense is already moved to a point where it was with Bo Nix in his second year, rather than where it was with Dillon Gabriel last year in terms of the intricacies, what the quarterback is going to handle at the line of scrimmage, whether that’s in protection or killing to a different concept, whether it’s run or pass. He’s handling all of that. So he’s got that preparation side, and then the skill jumps off the tape to me. I think that he is excellent and just, again, I think that this guy is going to New York.”

That glowing praise is supported by Vegas. Fanduel currently puts Moore as tied with Carson Beck for second best odds to win the Heisman this season. That puts him in a very good position to be the third Duck QB in a row to be a finalist. All he has to do is keep winning. The Ducks are currently 4-0 and they’re going into a huge matchup with Penn State this weekend at Happy Valley for a white out. This game could vault Moore into the top spot, or it could set him back, depending on how he plays. 

How does the Heisman impact Novosad staying?

Even as a Heisman finalist, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Moore would leave for the NFL. Recent busts like Trey Lance have made teams wary of raw, inexperienced QBs. Front offices now prefer players with more proven production. Would Moore go pro after only one full season under center? 

That’s the question, and that’s where the change to the transfer portal could come into play. Will Dante Moore be ready to make a decision on his future by December? If Novosad wants to start, he’s going to want to know where Moore is leaning. He won’t have the option of waiting until the Spring after Moore would have officially declared for the draft. The Ducks also would not be able to pursue another transfer QB if the portal is already closed. 

Currently there are already mock drafts projecting Dante in the first round. CBS has him at 12 to the Steelers. Athlon Sports also has him at 12 to the Steelers. ESPN currently ranks Dante as the 10^th best player in the draft. There has been a growing buzz that if Moore were to get a first-round grade, he would be nuts not to declare. 

Final Word

It’s still early in the season and a lot could change. Dante could hit a slump or an injury and this could all be moot, but the decision could be looming in the coming months. If Moore were to declare for the draft after Novosad transferred out, it would leave a gaping hole at QB1 next season. Are the Ducks comfortable with Luke Moga as the starting quarterback in 2026? Something to keep an eye on for Duck fans.

If you’re curious, ESPN currently ranks Matayo Uiagalelei right behind Dante at #11, Kenyon Sadiq at #28, Isaiah World at #29, and A’Mauri Washington at #30. CBS has Dante, Uiagalelei and Sadiq in the first round. Athlon Sports has Dante, Uiagalelei, Sadiq and Isaiah World in the first round.