Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza matchup a clash of Heisman favorites, top draft picks

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore scrambles with the ball as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore scrambles with the ball as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When No. 2 Oregon hosts No. 8 Indiana on Saturday October 11, it'll be a clash of two of college football's best quarterbacks, Heisman Trophy candidates and potential first-round draft picks Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza.

Heisman Trophy odds at FanDuel place Moore as the current favorite at +500 and Indiana quarterback Mendoza fifth at +1400 with Alabama's Ty Simpson, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Carson Beck of MIami and Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in between.

In the current Big Ten passing stats Mendoza leads with a passer rating of 198 while Moore stands currently fifth at 183. Mendoza has thrown for 1,208 yards and 16 touchdowns in the Hoosiers' 5-0 start, with one interception. Moore has piloted the Ducks to 5-0 with 1,210 yards passing, 14 touchdowns and one interception. Mendoza completes 73 percent of his throws and averages 9.9 yards per attempt. Moore connects on 75 percent, 9.0 ypa.

With preseason notables Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier plummeting both in the race for the Stiff-Arm Trophy and NFL draft projections, Autzen Stadium will be a hotbed of NFL scouts and national attention. It's a 12:30 p.m. PT game on CBS, with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell on the call.

Winning this duel would cement Moore as the favorite both for the trophy and QB-1 in the draft, but it'll be a challenge. The Hoosiers are a tough, physical, well-coached team, tied for sixth nationally in sacks with 16.

Tackles Mario Landino and Tyrique Tucker get after the quarterback. The Ducks counter with an offensive line that's surrendered just one sack all season, No. 1 in the country with one sack in 146 pass attempts, aided by Moore's quick release, decision-making and mobility.

The Hoosiers' RPO-based attack has good balance. Besides throwing downfield to leading receivers Elijah Surratt and Omar Cooper, who've combined for 53 catches and 820 yards, 12 touchdowns, IU runs for a conference-best 268 yards a game, though that number has been inflated by a weak nonconference schedule.

Early lines post the Ducks as a 10.5-point favorite with both teams coming off a bye.

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