USC Just Got Another Warning About Oregons Quarterback Situation

As Oregon's Dante Moore navigates a pivotal season with high stakes and a formidable supporting cast, the pressure is on for him to deliver consistently and secure his place in Big Ten and NFL draft history.

Dante Moore enters the season with the kind of spotlight that follows elite quarterbacks everywhere, and in the Big Ten, the conversation around him isn’t going away anytime soon. Oregon’s signal-caller has the talent, the supporting cast and the stage to settle the debate that still hangs over the conference.

Logan Brown recently put Moore at No. 1 among Big Ten quarterbacks, and his case was built on both ceiling and production. Brown wrote, "Dante Moore could have been a top-five pick in April's NFL draft, but opted to return to Eugene for another run.

The Ducks have stacked the deck around him. They are supporting Moore's Heisman run and potential national championship bid with arguably the best receiver corps in the country.

Moore's downfield accuracy is impeccable, especially when ripping the seam. Like Sayin, Moore didn't always show up in the biggest games, stumbling twice against Indiana and failing to diagnose the pressures the defense brought to his front door."

That’s the tension with Moore: the talent is obvious, but the biggest stage still asks for proof. He’s got the tools to sit in the best-quarterback conversation not just in the Big Ten, but in the country as well.

And this season gives him every chance to make that case. With more confidence and more motivation, Moore is positioned for a major year. If he delivers, Oregon won’t just move into the national title picture quickly - Moore could also push himself into the discussion as the next Big Ten quarterback to go No. 1 overall.

In Other News...

Waymond Jordan Just Gave USC Fans A Reason To Watch Honolulu Closely

Honolulu was already a familiar stop for Jayden Maiava, and the USC quarterback was back there again for a meet-and-greet and fundraiser tied to Aloha 1st Athletics and its Sports Week Hawaii initiative. He was joined by running back Waymond Jordan, giving Trojans fans another reminder that the programs Hawaii ties keep showing up in more than just recruiting conversations. Maiava has been active in the community there before, including a football clinic and school visits, while the event itself centered on a broader mission around sports, connection and support for local families.

Jordans presence carried its own significance for USC, especially with summer work and fall camp approaching. The running back is coming off an ankle injury from the 2025 season, and his return to public view in Honolulu offered a positive checkpoint after a long rehab stretch. For a team that will be watching its backfield closely, any update involving Jordan tends to draw interest, and this trip at least suggested he is moving in the right direction as the offseason rolls on. [Read more 🡒]

Lincoln Riley Just Made USC Fans Even More Concerned About Notre Dame

For USC fans who have grown used to seeing Notre Dame on the schedule every fall, the news that the rivalry will not be played in 2026 lands with real sting. The annual meeting has been a fixture again since 2020, and before that kind of pause you have to go all the way back to World War II, so even a one-year break feels like a jolt for one of college footballs most familiar series.

The split is tied to a scheduling disagreement, with USC preferring an early-season game and Notre Dame pushing for a later date, and Lincoln Riley still said he wants the rivalry to continue. But his comments also left the door open to the idea that USC would be lining up for the game if a certain unresolved condition had been met, which is exactly the sort of detail that keeps this from feeling like a simple calendar issue. [Read more 🡒]

Three USC Returners Are Suddenly Carrying Lincoln Rileys Biggest Burden

USCs preseason spotlight has a way of settling on the obvious names, but the pressure inside Lincoln Rileys program is spreading beyond the headline stars. With a reloaded receiving corps around Maiava and a defense still sorting out new pieces, the Trojans are leaning on a handful of returners to stabilize both sides of the ball as expectations rise again in Los Angeles.

Hines is part of that burden on offense, where USC needs someone to emerge as a dependable target while the rest of the receiver room settles in. On the other side, Christian Pierce is being asked to help hold together a secondary that lost a key piece, and Jahkeem Stewart is among the defenders expected to make an immediate impact. The early schedule should offer a quick read on how ready those returners are, and whether this group can carry more of Rileys burden than it has before. [Read more 🡒]