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Is Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore 'A lock' to Return to College in 2026?

Max Torres Author Profileby: Max Torres7 hours agomtorressports
Dante Moore
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore runs against Oregon State. (Photo by: Max Unkrich/ScoopDuckOn3)

Oregon Ducks redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore is one of the biggest names at his position. Moore has shown flashes of his elite talent this season, most notably in Oregon’s 30-24 double overtime win over Penn State in September.

Through eight games the 6-foot-3, 206-pound Detroit native has thrown for 1,772 yards and and 19 touchdown passes against just four interceptions. Moore has completed 60% of his passes and also added 131 rushing yards on 40 carries.

As the Ducks kick off the final month of the regular season in Iowa City this weekend, Moore’s name has been thrown around heavily in the 2026 NFL Draft discussion. Moore, who’s in just his first season as a full-time starter, could make the decision to return to Eugene for another year.

NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay sees him running it back with the Ducks.

“Dante Moore, one scout I just recently talked to: ‘Book it, he’s gonna be back at Oregon next year,’ ” McShay said on the Todd McShay Show this week. “They have the resources. The parents, the agent, the coaches are all in lockstep on this thing. Dante Moore’s gonna be an Oregon Duck next year and be paid handsomely to be that, but he will be back.”

Moore’s flashes of greatness have been intermixed with growing pains this season, and McShay thinks a return to college would be the right call.

“And this is me talking now, I think it’s absolutely the right decision. I think he’s super talented. I think the Jets just made a couple massive trades giving up Quinnen Williams and giving up their cornerback Sauce Gardner to get picks for 2026, but most importantly for 2027.

“If they’re going to turn it around they’ve got a general manager and a head coach who are in lockstep. And they recognize maybe we get a guy in 2026, but we’re still getting an eye on that class in 2027 that could include Julian Sayin, Arch Manning, Ty Simpson, Dante Moore, (John) Mateer, (LaNorris) Sellers. Again that is not in order.”

Like every other top quarterback in college football, Moore has not made a decision one way or another about coming back or declaring for the NFL Draft. If he were to head to the NFL, the other quarterbacks on Oregon’s roster would feature former redshirt sophomore Austin Novosad, redshirt sophomore Brock Thomas, redshirt freshman Luke Moga, and true freshman Akili Smith Jr.

The Ducks are expected to sign 4-star quarterback and Elite 11 Finalist Bryson Beaver as part of their 2026 class in December.

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