Hot starts by Heisman hopeful QBs create additional pressure for Dante Moore

In the scheme of things, winning Oregon's second Heisman Trophy is way on the back burner for Dante Moore, but if the Ducks are to realize those national championship dreams, their junior quarterback needs to have a Heisman-worthy or Heisman-adjacent season.

Moore has to elevate his play in big games, and make a Bo Nix-like leap in his ability to recognize and exploit defensive pressure.

Around college football, there's a growing group of quarterbacks who have started fast in pursuit of gaining momentum for the sport's most coveted individual award. Last night in Palo Alto, new Miami quarterback Darian Mensah immediately vaulted into the front rank of contenders with a scintillating performance, 27-30 for 401 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-6 win over Stanford.

Mensah connected with another Heisman Trophy candidate, explosive sophomore wide receiver Malachi Toney, on 12 catches for 234 yards, touchdowns of 23, 2, and 47 yards.

In the Los Angeles Coliseum USC quarterback Jayden Maiava followed up a strong Week Zero performance with a big night against Fresno State, spearheading a 39-0 win with 23-25 passing for 349 yards and three TDs. He hit leading receiver Trent Moseley, an emerging star as a 5-10, 180 freshman, for touchdowns of 68 and 9 yards.

In two games, both Trojan victories, Maiava is 48-54 passing for 635 yards and a nation-leading five touchdowns, completing an astounding 89 percent of his passes. Mensah debuted at 90 percent.

At Indiana, Josh Hoover opened his campaign as the new starter for the Hoosiers by completing 7-8 passes in the first half for 100 yards and two touchdowns as the defending national champions cruised to a 24-6 lead over North Texas.

Ohio State raced out to an early 21-3 lead over Ball State in their opener with Julian Sayin hitting 19-23 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, finding Jeremiah Smith for 48 yards for one score, zipping a slant pass to freshman Devin McCuin for his second, then scrambling up the middle for a three-yard score on 4th and goal.

It's a season-long award, one that honors consistency, production and execution, but these startling starts by notable contenders ratchet up the pressure on Moore to be on-point in Oregon's opener with Boise State. But then, pressure is a privilege.

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