Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in college football this season, a performance that has helped the program solidify its spot as the No. 5 seed in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format. While much of the focus is on this definitive postseason stage, it’s impossible to avoid speculation about his potential jump to the NFL.
The Ducks will host James Madison in the first round at Autzen Stadium on December 20, but one of the biggest questions surrounding the program is whether Moore will return to Oregon for another year or declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dante Moore’s decision remains up in the air
Reporters asked Moore on Monday whether he had already made a decision.
“There’s not a decision yet. I don’t know,” Moore said. “I’m just glad to be here and play JMU this upcoming week,” he told the media.
In most 2026 NFL Mock Drafts, Dante Moore is projected as high as the No. 2 overall pick, with many analysts even forecasting him as a potential No. 1 selection. According to CBS Sports, Moore goes No. 2 to the Las Vegas Raiders in their latest mock.
In that simulation, the top overall pick would be Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who recently won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and has led Indiana to the No. 1 ranking in the country.
There’s no doubt this will be a tough decision for Moore. It’s unlikely his draft stock could rise much higher with another college season, so he’ll have to weigh whether returning would better serve his long-term development.
Oregon would obviously love to have him back for one more year. The former five-star recruit from the 2023 class – after a freshman stint with the UCLA Bruins – has proven he can lead the Ducks’ offense.
In 2024, Moore backed up Dillon Gabriel in a valuable learning year that paid off. In 2025, he started all 12 games for Oregon, throwing for 2,773 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions while guiding the team to an 11-1 record.
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