After bypassing the NFL draft, the electric playmaker earns the nation's top ranking from Joel Klatt as Eugene prepares for a high-stakes championship run behind their Heisman-favorite quarterback.
As the Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning prepare for the 2026 college football season this summer, the hype surrounding star quarterback Dante Moore continues to grow throughout the course of the offseason.
Moore, who was a key piece to the Ducks’ success on offense last year, is set to return to the lineup for the upcoming season despite many believing he would enter his name into the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, with the electric playmaker back in Eugene this year, Oregon could be due for a massive 2026 season in hopes of winning a National Championship.
When discussing the top 10 quarterbacks in college football before the 2026 season, FOX Sports’ analyst Joel Klatt gave massive praise to Moore, ranking him as the No. 1 quarterback this offseason.
“I know [Moore] made that massive mistake in the semifinal, snap one, throws the pick six to D'Angelo Ponds, but this guy has experience, and he's got gifts that you just cannot teach,” Klatt stated. “He's got the mobility, the ability to rip it down the field. He can make every single throw out there.”
Expectations For Moore in 2026
Jan 9, 2026; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the fourth quarter the 2025 Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesMoore, after spending his freshman season with the UCLA Bruins, would eventually enter the transfer portal and land with Lanning and the Ducks before the 2024 college football season. And despite gaining experience as a true freshman, the talented playmaker had a unique opportunity to sit behind veteran Dillon Gabriel for the 2024 season, allowing him to learn and develop as a young quarterback.
This would pay off for Moore and the Ducks in the long run, as the Michigan native quickly hit the ground running in 2025. In his first year as the starting quarterback for Oregon, Moore was nothing short of impressive, throwing for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while also rushing for 156 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Unfortunately for the prolific quarterback, his incredible stint during the regular season would not carry into the 2025-26 College Football Playoffs, as he struggled against fierce competition in the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the eventual National Champions, the Indiana Hoosiers. And with unfinished business with the Ducks, Moore ultimately decided to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to college for the upcoming season.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Moore is tied with Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin for the third-highest odds to win the Heisman Trophy Award, trailing behind the likes of Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Texas’ Arch Manning.
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