Oregon fans got powerful news moments ago as starting quarterback Dante Moore announced he's returning for his redshirt junior season, delaying a big payday in the NFL draft.
Moore announced his decision live on ESPN SportsCenter. Eighth in the country in passing efficiency in his first full year starter, the 6-3, 206 gunslinger from Detroit, Michigan completed71.8 percent of his passes for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and ten interceptions.
His return immediately makes the Ducks one of the early favorites for the National Championship next season and Moore a Heisman candidate. As a sophomore he showed passing brilliance at times, threading beautiful deep balls down the sidelines and to the seams, other times overwhelmed by blitzes and poor protection.
"Of course, I'll be coming back to Oregon for one more year."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 14, 2026
Dante Moore tells SportsCenter that he's running it back with the Ducks to chase a national championship next season 😤 pic.twitter.com/8YpwVafPjJ
Oregon now has one of the best quarterback situations in the country as Nebraska's Dylan Raiola, with 22 career college starts, has signed with the team to backup Moore this year while taking a redshirt, then compete for the job in 2027. A new NCAA rules allow redshirts to play as many as nine games, pending Committee approval.
Moore joins center Poncho Laloulu, tight end Jamari Johnson, A'Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti in returning to the Ducks, a nucleus of NFL talent and leadership that's certain to create a lot of national buzz.
The Ducks' starter was projected to go in the first round, possibly No. 2 to the Jets. Instead, he chose development over a $50 million rookie contract for a Top Two pick.