By forgoing the NFL to refine his pocket presence, the Ducks' star signal-caller eyes a Heisman run and a national title chase alongside a loaded roster.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore could have been chasing the NFL Rookie of the Year Award this fall if he entered the 2026 NFL Draft.
Instead, Moore wisely concluded that he needed to improve a few skills before he was ready to be thrown to the wolves in the league. He needs to learn to handle pressure, get the ball out of his hands quickly, and avoid turnovers.
How Moore develops in those areas will be key for Oregon as the program navigates a tough schedule this fall. If the quarterback can achieve those goals, he could beat out Texas quarterback Arch Manning for the Heisman Trophy.
ESPN's Paolo Uggetti believes Moore will be in the mix for college football's top individual prize.
"Moore made a somewhat surprising decision after last season, forgoing the NFL draft -- where he would have likely been one of the top two or three quarterbacks selected -- to head back to Oregon for one more year," he wrote.
"After a 3,565-yard, 30-touchdown campaign in 2025, Moore had the third-shortest odds for the award as of the first week of May. And with some of his top targets, such as Darkorien Moore and a healthy Evan Stewart, still in Eugene ahead of a season that seems like championship or bust for the Ducks, Moore should be right in the mix for the sport's top award.”
This spring, Moore acknowledged he's been feeling pressure this spring. He's been coming up with techniques to insert more fun into his process.
“I kind of feel like as athletes, we get so much into our minds and mental that at the end of the day, I kind of just told everybody the other day – picture yourself when you’re a kid playing in the backyard you’re just having fun," Moore said.
"You’re running around, you’re having the joy."
The Heisman Trophy would be an incredible achievement for Moore, but the team has another award they're trying to win this year. The Ducks have the roster to make a run to the national championship, if their highly-touted quarterback can will them there.