The Oregon Ducks are getting major recognition for something that can change a season in a hurry: quarterback depth.
PFF ranked Oregon’s quarterback room as the deepest in the country, putting the Ducks ahead of Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas, LSU, Notre Dame, Miami, USC, California and Georgia. That kind of placement doesn’t happen by accident, and it starts with a room that has a clear headliner and real insurance behind him.
At the top is Dante Moore, who is back for his third season in Eugene. Moore made his first start of his Oregon career in 2025 and delivered a huge year, throwing for 30 touchdowns and adding two more scores on the ground.
His return caught some people off guard, since he had been projected by some as a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Instead, he stays in college and now gets another year to build his case for the 2027 NFL Draft.
That decision gives Oregon a proven starter with big-time production, and it also gives the Ducks a chance to chase the first national championship in program history with Moore leading the way.
What really pushed Oregon to the top of the ranking, though, is what sits behind him.
Dylan Raiola is expected to be the primary backup after starting at Nebraska just one season ago. Now entering his third year of college football, Raiola is projected to be Oregon’s starter in 2027. For now, he gets to learn behind Moore while also settling into Oregon’s new offensive scheme, with Drew Mehringer taking over the role left behind by Will Stein, who is now the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Brock Thomas gives the Ducks another layer. He’s back after serving as Oregon’s backup last season and finished the year with 130 passing yards. He doesn’t bring the same experience as the two quarterbacks ahead of him, but as a third option, he fits the bill.
Then there’s Akili Smith Jr., the youngest quarterback in the group. He is a redshirt-freshman, now described as a year two player after recent eligibility changes. In his second season with the Ducks, he’s expected to remain a low-usage option and likely won’t start a game if things go the way Oregon wants.
Taken together, it’s a room that explains why Oregon got the top spot in PFF’s ranking. The Ducks have a proven starter, a high-profile backup with starting experience, a steady third option, and a developmental fourth arm behind them.
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Dan Lanning and defensive ends coach Kamran Araghi have both pointed to Dantzlers work ethic and the progress he has made during fall camp, a good sign for a player looking to turn an opportunity into a role. For Oregon, the appeal is obvious: if Dantzler keeps developing, he could become a useful piece in the front seven as the Ducks get closer to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Likes What He Sees From Oregon But Two Concerns Remain
After Oregons first fall camp scrimmage, Dan Lanning came away encouraged by what he saw on both sides of the ball, especially the way the Ducks carried themselves physically and defended with intent. The session was closed to the media and public, but Lanning still had enough to point to a group that looks like it has spent its summer doing the work needed to arrive ready for camp.
Even so, the review was not a clean sweep. Lanning flagged ball security and special teams as areas that still need attention, a reminder that August evaluations are as much about identifying leaks as they are celebrating progress. Oregon will keep pushing through practice, with media access coming later in the week, and those next sessions should offer a better sense of how quickly the Ducks can tighten up the details that matter most. [Read more 🡒]