Wisconsin linebacker Mason Posa knocked Dante Moore out of the game with a shot to the face on the third play of the third quarter. Brock Thomas took over and went 4-4 in the second half with a touchdown pass, leading two touchdown drives as the Ducks won 21-7 in miserable conditions at Autzen Stadium.
The driving rain, gusty winds and a stubborn Wisconsin defense reduced Dante Moore's 2025 Heisman chances to a longshot. Back in September after the win over Penn State he was the national favorite at +750.
Heisman Trophy Odds, FanDuel
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) +300
Ty Simpson (Alabama) +340
Julian Sayin (Ohio State) +380
Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) +500
Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) +850
Gunner Stockton (Georgia) +1200
Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) +2500
Haynes King (Georgia Tech) +2500
Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) +3500
Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) +4000
Dante Moore (Oregon) +5500
Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati) +5500
CJ Carr (Notre Dame) +5500
Two games ago Moore was the national leader after a 248-yard, three touchdown performance in a 30-24 double overtime win in Happy Valley, but he dropped off after losing head-to-head to Mendoza and struggling against Wisconsin. His pocket awareness has deserted him as the Oregon offensive line suffered key breakdowns, sacked twice early.
Before his injury Moore struggled, 9-15 passing for 86 yards and no TDs, but he did lead the team on a 99-yard drive just before halftime to take a 7-0 lead.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin have soared to the top as both Heisman and playoff favorites. Mendoza led a 56-6 rout of UCLA Saturday with 168 yards and three touchdowns. Simpson engineered a fourth quarter comeback on the road at South Carolina. Sayin had the week off, but he's led the Buckeyes to a No. 1 ranking and 7-0 record while completing 80 percent of his passes, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Moore and the Ducks have a bye week before a tough November. He could surge back into the race with strong performances in a tough road game at Iowa, a Friday night home game versus Minnesota, and two intriguing quarterback matchups, November 22 versus Jayden Maiava of USC and November 29 in Seattle, head-to-head with Demond Williams.