Dante Moore is staying at Oregon for the 2026 season.
Despite being projected as a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Moore announced Wednesday on ESPN’s SportsCenter that he is returning to Oregon for the 2026 season.
“I feel like I can still learn so much more,” Moore said. “Since four years old, I’ve dreamed about being in the NFL, but this team, we’ve been through a lot. A lot of people are returning, so I feel like we have exciting things coming this year, and I’m exciting to keep pushing my team.”
"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
Moore was projected to be selected as early as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. While the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, Moore was viewed as the likely choice for the New York Jets at No. 2 after they benched Justin Fields midseason. The Arizona Cardinals, who hold the No. 3 overall pick, are also expected to be in the quarterback market this offseason.
But Moore has only been a starter at Oregon for one year, and had some ups and downs in his first season leading the Ducks. While he completed 71.8% of his passing attempts for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, he turned the ball over twice in each of Oregon’s losses to Indiana, including a pick-six on the first play from scrimmage of the Ducks’ 56-22 loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl.
Moore began his college career at UCLA in 2023 before transferring to Oregon in 2024. He backed up Dillon Gabriel for one season, taking a redshirt year in the process, before becoming the Ducks’ starting quarterback in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore.
His return to Oregon positions the Ducks to be a top contender for the Big Ten and national championships next season. It also means that Dylan Raiola will have to wait a year for his opportunity to be the Ducks’ starting quarterback after he transferred to Oregon earlier this week.
It leaves the 2026 NFL draft class thin on top quarterback prospects behind Mendoza, but sets up a potentially loaded quarterback draft class in 2027. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Texas’ Arch Manning are also among the quarterbacks who are viewed as potential top picks in the 2027 draft.
Oregon will travel to Columbus to face Ohio State in 2026. The date and kickoff time for the game are still to be announced.
