The best-case scenario for the Ducks remains Dante Moore returning for his junior year, but the timing is tricky. The Transfer Portal opens January 2nd and closes January 16.
Monday morning Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt announced his intention to enter the portal. A two-year starter for Kenny Dillingham with the Sun Devils, the 6-2, 205 sophomore from West Linn High School in West Linn, Oregon will be one of the most sought-after prospects at QB.
He's completed 60 percent of his passes as a Big 12 star, throwing for 4,652 yards and 36 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He started his career at Michigan State, redshirting in 2023.
A foot injury limited the Oregon native to seven games this season and he had surgery in November. He skipped the team banquet Sunday, apparently looking for a new opportunity with a stronger receiving corps and a chance to compete for a national title, postseason awards and a shot at the NFL.
Leavitt's a mobile, versatile quarterback and a scrapper. He led ASU to playoff spot last year, losing to Texas in double overtime alongside bruising running back Cam Skattebo.
With a playoff run in progress and two new coordinators taking over, the Oregon coaches face a daunting calendar. Draft-eligible players have until January 15 to declare for the NFL draft, extended to January 25 for players in the championship game. Once in the portal, players can remain there, but it closes to new entries on January 16.
Transfer quarterbacks a huge factor in college football outlook
Most draft projections have Moore as an early first-round pick, but Todd McShay and other experts say he'd benefit from another year of starts at the college level.
In October McShay said on "The Todd McShay Show,"
"There's one scout I just talked to, book it, he's gonna be back at Oregon next year."
"The resources, the parents, the agent, the coaches are all in lock-step on this thing. Dante Moore is going to be an Oregon Duck next year, and he's going to be paid handsomely to be that. But he will be back."
Sam Leavitt helped bring Tempe a magical season, a Big 12 championship, and a CFP berth. I’m thankful he chose to be a Sun Devil pic.twitter.com/LUoCNGtneU
— Clutch Sports: Sun Devils (@ClutchSportsASU) December 8, 2025
It's early in the process for both Leavitt and the Ducks. Evaluating personnel for next season and determining portal needs is in the hands of chief of staff Marshall Malchow, and he's proven fiercely competent in that area.
Every year the Ducks make six to ten crucial acquisitions in the portal. The haul this year included Emmanuel Pregnon, Alex Harkey, Isaiah World, Bear Alexander, Jadon Canaday, Malik Benson and Jamari Johnson, and it's hard to imagine the Ducks playing for a national championship without them.
Within the Hatfield-Dowlin Center they'll make an evaluation on whether Moore comes back and what direction to go at quarterback in 2026. For now, Leavitt is an intriguing name, nothing more. He and Darian Mensah are two that will command a lot of attention.
In six of the last eight years, a transfer quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy, and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza could make it a seventh, if Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia does not.