Oregon’s quarterback room has a little bit of everything, and Pro Football Focus says it’s the best in the country.
That’s a pretty strong label for a group led by Dante Moore, who enters the 2026 season with the kind of buzz that can reshape a program. He’s being talked about as a Heisman Trophy contender and a possible No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and he’s the main reason the Ducks have a real shot at the program’s first championship.
Moore is the headliner, but the depth behind him is what makes Oregon’s situation stand out. In a perfect world for the Ducks, he never leaves the field. Still, if something forces Oregon to go another direction, the cupboard isn’t bare.
PFF ranked Oregon’s quarterback room No. 1 nationally, with Ohio State and Ole Miss right behind it. Moore anchors that ranking after a huge season in which he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors.
The transfer portal added another major piece in Dylan Raiola, who began his college career at Nebraska. He arrives in Eugene after starting 22 games and putting up 4,819 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, while completing 69.1% of his throws - a Nebraska program record. For now, Raiola is following Moore’s lead by sitting back, learning, and trying to position himself for a bigger role down the line.
There’s a good chance Moore and Raiola open the season as the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart. But Oregon’s options don’t stop there.
Brock Thomas gives the Ducks a veteran presence with familiarity inside the building. A local product from Sheldon High School, Thomas earned the staff’s trust last season as Moore’s backup. He even stepped in for an injured Moore in a rainy home game against Wisconsin and helped Oregon finish the job in tough conditions.
That experience matters, and so does the comfort level he already has with the coaching staff. Oregon’s receivers have also praised Thomas for his command of the offense and the way he throws the ball. When fall camp begins, he should have a real chance to hold onto the No. 2 job.
Then there’s Akili Smith Jr., a name that already carries weight with Oregon fans. The son of former Ducks quarterback Akili Smith redshirted last season, but he turned heads in the spring game and picked up some momentum with the fan base.
At 6-foot-5 and more than 200 pounds, he has the size and, by the sound of it, the biggest arm in the room. He may not be ready to crack the rotation this year, but his growth is worth watching.
Oregon’s hope is simple: Moore stays healthy, stays on the field, and keeps the offense rolling. If the Ducks do get into a situation where they empty the bench or need to turn to another passer, Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer have options.
And that’s why Oregon can head into the season feeling good about the most important room on the roster.
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Ohio State Fans Wont Love Who Helped Oregon Grab The Top Spot
Preseason polls are already giving the 2026 college football conversation an early jolt, and Oregon has landed right in the middle of it. On3 put Ohio State at No. 1 even without a first-place vote, but the Ducks still managed to draw some top billing of their own, a sign that the national view of Dan Lannings program remains strong even as the roster and staff continue to evolve.
Oregons case starts with the kind of continuity that poll voters tend to notice this time of year. Dante Moore is back at quarterback, the Ducks bring back key receivers and most of their defensive starters, and the foundation from last season is still intact. The wrinkle is on the sidelines, where Oregon will have new coordinators after coaching departures, leaving the Ducks with plenty of proven talent and just enough uncertainty to keep the top of the rankings interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Crowded QB Room Says A Lot About This Teams Ceiling
Oregons quarterback room has become one of the more interesting pressure points on the roster, and Brock Thomas is right in the middle of it. The redshirt junior has stayed put even with returning starter Dante Moore in place and transfer Dylan Raiola now added to the mix, a sign of how much talent the Ducks are trying to keep under one roof. Thomas has flashed in limited game action and in practice, and he remains part of a group that also includes redshirt freshman Akili Smith Jr., giving Oregon more depth and more options than most programs can claim.
For Thomas, the situation also carries a longer view. He has the kind of profile that could eventually make a starting job elsewhere tempting if the path stays crowded in Eugene, but for now he is focused on helping the Ducks in whatever role they need. That kind of internal competition says plenty about Oregons ceiling, because it suggests the staff is trying to balance immediate production with future upside at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Markus Dixon Returns To Oregon With One Big Role To Prove
Markus Dixons arrival gives Oregon another interesting piece to sort through at tight end as fall camp gets underway. The Clemson transfer brings position flexibility and a frame that the Ducks can use in a room that needed reinforcements after a starter left for the NFL Draft, which made his addition more than just a depth move on paper.
What makes Dixon worth watching is how much remains unsettled about his fit. Oregon brought him in to help the tight end group, but his exact assignment is still being determined as camp unfolds, leaving him with a clear chance to carve out something bigger than a reserve role if he can quickly show the staff where he belongs. [Read more 🡒]