Dante Moore is returning to Oregon for a couple of reasons. He's expected to be a top quarterback in the Big Ten.
Dante Moore had a chance to be a Top 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before choosing to return to Oregon.
Moore completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 2025. He's hoping to become a better quarterback in 2026 to better his chances of having a successful career in the NFL.
Moore also wants to win a national championship.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the best quarterback in the Big Ten in 2025. He's expected to be the No. 1 pick in April's draft.
Mendoza was a key reason why Indiana beat the Ducks in the regular season and College Football Playoff semifinal.
Oregon is expected to have the advantage at quarterback next season.
Zachary Neel of USA Today ranked Moore as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten for 2026.
"Whether you want to put Sayin over Moore, or Moore over Sayin is up for debate," Neel wrote. "I don't have a problem either way. I think that Moore's experience gives him the slightest edge, and his production speaks for itself.
"He chose to come back for one more year, putting off a spot in the top-five of the 2026 NFL draft, and I think that he's going to try and prove that was the right decision with a great season in Eugene."
ESPN's Todd McShay thinks Moore made the right decision to return to Eugene. He suggested Moore has a few things to improve before heading into the 2027 NFL Draft.
“Refinement happens first with self-scouting," McShay said in January. "He needs to go and find out why it is that he’s so inconsistent. Honestly, if I’m advising him, is the first thing. Why are we so inconsistent with pressure?...
"Secondly is, you’re making so many great reads and so many plays,” McShay said. “But you make a mistake like the pick six, or you hold onto the ball too long. How can we speed up this process?"
If Moore leads the Ducks to a Big Ten championship and CFP national title appearance, he could be well on his way to becoming the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.