BREAKING: Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore Stuns With Decision to Return for 2026 Season
In a move that has sent ripples through both the collegiate and professional football landscapes, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has officially pushed his NFL dreams to the back burner. During a Wednesday appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, the Ducks’ signal-caller announced he will return to Eugene for the 2026 season, opting out of an NFL Draft class where many projected him to be the first quarterback off the board.
For Moore, this wasn’t just a decision about school spirit; it was a decision to walk away from a fortune. By returning to school, Moore is bypassing a projected guaranteed contract in the realm of $50 million. To put that in perspective, last year’s No. 2 pick, Travis Hunter, secured $46.65 million fully guaranteed—a figure Moore likely would have eclipsed.
Dante Moore Bets on Development Over Draft Status
The modern era of college football is defined by immediacy, making Moore’s choice a rare throwback to a different time. It evokes memories of Andrew Luck at Stanford or Matt Leinart at USC—players who had the world at their feet but chose one last ride with their university.
While the financial implications are staggering, the football logic is sound. Despite a breakout 2025 campaign where he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, Dante Moore has only started 20 collegiate games. NFL executives and scouts famously look for a “line of demarcation” around 25 starts to truly feel comfortable handing the keys of a franchise to a rookie. By returning, Moore isn’t just chasing a national title; he is refining his craft to ensure that when he does leap to the NFL in 2027, he is undeniably ready.
Redemption and the Peach Bowl Loss
It is impossible to view this decision without looking at the scoreboard of the recent College Football Playoff semifinal. The Ducks’ season ended on a sour note with a crushing 56-22 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl. It was a night where nothing went right for Oregon, and Moore struggled uncharacteristically, throwing a pick-six on the opening play and losing two fumbles.
For a competitor of Moore’s caliber, leaving that performance as his final collegiate legacy likely didn’t sit right. While Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza solidified his own draft stock in that game, Moore’s decision to return suggests a hunger to wash away the bitter taste of that defeat. He isn’t leaving on a low note; he’s coming back to finish the job.
Oregon Instantly becomes a 2026 Title Favorite
With Dante Moore back under center, the expectations in Eugene have shifted from “rebuild” to “championship or bust.” The Ducks aren’t just bringing back their star quarterback; they are retaining a strong nucleus of young wide receivers and key defensive linemen that make them a terrifying matchup for anyone in the Big Ten.
The program also made waves in the transfer portal by adding former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola from Nebraska. With Moore’s return, the hierarchy is clear: Moore is the general for 2026, allowing Raiola to sit, learn, and prepare to take the mantle in 2027. It’s an embarrassment of riches for the Ducks, who now possess perhaps the best quarterback room in the country.
The Road to the 2027 NFL Draft
The narrative for the 2026 college football season has found its protagonist. Dante Moore enters the year not as a prospect protecting his draft stock, but as a veteran leader chasing a ring. He has the stats—completing 71.8% of his passes—and he has the arm talent. Now, he has the one thing money can’t buy: time.
By betting on himself, Moore has made Oregon the team to watch and arguably the team to beat. The 2027 NFL Draft will be there waiting for him, likely with that top spot still reserved. But for now, Autzen Stadium gets one more y
