After a disastrous performance in the College Football Playoff semifinal, Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore is receiving strong messages to return to school rather than head to the NFL.
Heading into the semifinal game against the Indiana Hoosiers, many saw Moore as a potential rival to Fernando Mendoza for the No. 1 pick. However, Moore had a disappointing showing against the Hoosiers, recording three first-half turnovers in the 56-22 Ducks loss. Moore also went 24-for-39 for 285 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
As a result, during the blowout contest against Indiana, many media members, such as The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, didn’t hesitate to advise Moore to return to Oregon for another season.
“Tonight’s 1st half is why many believe Dante Moore is staying in school,” Brugler wrote on X during the Oregon-Indiana game on Jan. 9. “Extremely talented player who is still very young in a lot of areas.”
Moreover, due to Oregon’s lopsided performance, Zachary Neel, the Ducks’ beat reporter for USA Today, expressed the belief that several veteran players, including Moore, could return for the 2026 season.
“If you are a person who feels inclined to try and look at the bright side of things in life, this outcome will likely lead to a lot of veterans returning for the 2026 season, Dante Moore among them,” Neel wrote on Jan. 9 on X during the Indiana win.
Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore Seen as No. 1 Pick
One of the sports media people who saw Moore ahead of Mendoza as the No. 1 pick was former NFL QB Brady Quinn. On the Jan. 9 edition of “The Dan Patrick Show,” Quinn noted that if he were in charge of Las Vegas, he would be taking Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore, who has yet to declare for this year’s draft.
“Kirk Cousins is kind of who I’m watching and see in regards to motion,” Quinn said about Mendoza. “… If Dante Moore comes out, I’m not so sure he’s not going to be the No. 1 overall pick. There’s a real argument to be made in his upside, his skill set. He to me, if he came out, would be the purest passer, meaning when you watch him, he’s got a stronger arm.
“He layers throws better. I know he’s not as experienced, and obviously, you know, he’s not the Heisman Trophy winner, and Fernando’s had a tremendous year. I’m not taking anything away from that.
“When I watch the tape of these guys, and you’re watching the different throws that they’re making, I sit there and look at Dante Moore. I said, ‘Yeah, that’s the guy I probably feel like has the higher upside and even some of the stuff he does off schedule even.’”
Is Fernando Mendoza the Top NFL Prospect?
Quinn points out that Mendoza holds the top spot unless Moore chooses to return to Oregon for another season. If Moore enters the 2026 NFL Draft, he would likely favor the Ducks standout over the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
“The difference for me again is just I think Dante’s got a little bigger arm,” Quinn added. “He can create a little bit more. He’s less experienced and obviously doesn’t have the same type of tape. [But] it’s just effortless when you watch him [and] the way he throws the football. The one concern I have for Fernando is that they run a bit more of a heavier RPO offense, and that doesn’t translate quite as well to the next level.
“We always talk about the progressive quarterbacks reading defenses and understanding what they’re trying to take away. You see a little more NFL throws, more of an NFL style offense from what Dant is asked to do in Oregon as opposed to maybe what you’re seeing from uh Fernando at IU.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Dante Moore Gets Blunt NFL Draft Take as Oregon Lose to Indiana appeared first on Heavy Sports.