Dante Moore is running it back - and he’s not just chasing wins. He’s chasing greatness.
Despite being projected as a Top 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Oregon quarterback has decided to return to Eugene for another season. That’s a bold choice in today’s college football landscape, where elite prospects often head to the league as soon as the draft buzz starts building. But for Moore, there’s more left to prove - and a golden opportunity to etch his name into college football history.
Let’s be clear: Moore didn’t have a down year in 2025. Far from it.
He completed a sharp 71.8% of his passes, racking up 3,565 yards through the air with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added another 156 yards and two scores on the ground.
Those are numbers that would get most quarterbacks a one-way ticket to the NFL Combine.
But Moore is betting on himself - and on the Ducks - to take another leap in 2026. If he elevates his game even further and Oregon lives up to the hype that’s already starting to build, he won’t just be a top draft pick.
He’ll be a Heisman Trophy finalist. Maybe even the winner.
That’s not a pipe dream. It’s a real possibility.
Only one Duck has ever hoisted the Heisman: Marcus Mariota in 2014. Since then, Oregon’s had two quarterbacks make the finalist stage - Bo Nix in 2023 and Dillon Gabriel in 2024. Moore could become the third Oregon QB in four years to earn a trip to New York, and if he puts together a complete campaign, he might just bring the trophy back to Eugene.
Of course, the Heisman race is always crowded, and the early odds reflect that. According to FanDuel, Moore enters the offseason tied with several other contenders at +1300. That puts him just behind the top two favorites - Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, both sitting at +800 - and in a tight pack that includes names like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, and LSU’s Sam Leavitt.
Here’s a look at the early 2026 Heisman odds:
2026 Heisman Trophy Odds (via FanDuel):
- Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+800)
- CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+800)
- Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana (+1100)
- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300)
- Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+1300)
- Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (+1300)
- Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU (+1300)
- Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+1300)
- Jayden Maiava, QB, USC (+2000)
- Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+2000)
- John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma (+2000)
It’s a loaded field, but Moore has the tools - and now, the experience - to rise above it.
And while Moore is firmly entrenched as QB1 in Eugene, there’s an interesting side note in the odds: Oregon’s projected backup, Dylan Raiola, checks in at +4000. The Nebraska transfer is one of the most highly touted prospects in the country, but unless Moore misses time, Raiola likely won’t see the field in 2026. Still, it’s a testament to Oregon’s quarterback depth that even their No. 2 guy is getting Heisman buzz.
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Moore. He’s coming back with a purpose, and if he builds on what he did in 2025, he won’t just be remembered as a great Oregon quarterback - he could become a Ducks legend.