The Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning have found themselves in a brutal situation midway through the 2026 college football season.

After a shocking 4-3 start to the regular season, it’s safe to say that the Ducks have lost their chance to compete for a National Title. To make matters worse, Lanning told reporters on Monday that star quarterback Dante Moore will miss the rest of the regular season due to a horrific head injury he sustained against the USC Trojans earlier this season.

Instead of entering his name into the 2026 NFL Draft class, Moore decided to forgo his chance at the league and return to Eugene for one final run at the College Football Playoffs. But the talented playmaker's choice to come back for another season makes Oregon’s future outlook at the quarterback position more intriguing heading into 2027.

Now that Moore is set to miss the rest of the 2026 college football season, the question is whether he will declare for the 2027 NFL Draft.

There is, however, a major caveat to Moore’s decision — the NCAA’s newest “5-for-5 rule” grants the veteran quarterback another year of eligibility, which means he can return to college for one more season in 2027. This becomes a perfect opportunity for Moore to restore his draft stock, which took a hit at the beginning of the season.

The former five-star high school prospect was widely considered a top quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft class heading into this season after an impressive 2025 campaign. But during his three-and-a-half games played this year, Moore struggled to improve when facing pressure, which was his biggest knock amongst the NFL Draft community.

His chances of being selected in round one of the upcoming draft began to dwindle, and with the Ducks officially ruling him out for the rest of the season, there is no opportunity for him to try to revamp his stock before the draft.

Depending on the feedback he receives from NFL teams heading into the offseason, returning to college for another season could be his best course of action, while also simultaneously helping Oregon’s future quarterback room.

The potential return of Moore next season could be a significant boost for Lanning and his squad heading into 2027.

This offseason, Oregon’s coaching staff made it a point of emphasis to plan for the future of the position by landing former Nebraska Cornhuskers standout Dylan Raiola in the transfer portal. The once highly touted high school prospect was set to be Moore’s backup this season and become the starter in 2027.

Unfortunately, the plan was dramatically changed once Moore sustained his head injury, as it forced Raiola into the starting quarterback role.

Raiola showed great promise when facing off against USC, leading his team to a 41-27 victory by completing 19 of 25 pass attempts for 289 passing yards and two touchdowns. But the magic would quickly run out, as the junior quarterback would throw for 378 yards, two interceptions, and one touchdown in his last three games played while splitting time with senior Brock Thomas.

If Moore ultimately decides to stay for another season, I find it very hard to believe that Raiola would sit behind him for another season. His name could generate some buzz if he entered the portal, and knowing how desperate college football teams are to find a quarterback, Raiola would easily be able to find a new home.