Dante Moore’s NFL dreams are on hold.
The quarterback announced on ESPN that he will remain at Oregon for another season.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore said he has decided to return to school for the 2026 season, forgoing a chance to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His decision is expected to have significant ramifications on the draft. pic.twitter.com/IPQRYOSbbC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2026
A 20-year-old native of East Cleveland, OH, Moore was expected to be the second quarterback off the board in April’s NFL Draft after Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
Moore spent the past two seasons in Eugene after spending his freshman season at UCLA. After backing up Dillon Gabriel in 2024, Moore became the Ducks starter this past season. He appeared in 15 games for the team in 2025, throwing for 3,565 yards on 296-for-412 passing with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added two more TDs and 156 yards on the ground.
The Ducks were the fifth seed in the CFP Playoff and defeated No. 12 James Madison in the opening round before a 23-0 shutout of No. 4 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals. The Ducks’ season came to an end last week in a 56-22 loss to the Hoosiers.
