Oregon Football: Expectations of Dante Moore

Our Oregon football team has had a great offseason overall, but there’s a lot more question marks in the air from fans and writers around the sport that are hesitant to buy stock on Oregon’s new starting quarterback: Dante Moore. Even ol’ Mr. FishDuck took a break from his gaming fun at MLB betting picks to give me his take on the quarterback battle in Oregon fall camp.

Now don’t get me wrong: Dante’s got a long way to go and will grow a ton this season. I don’t expect a moon ball to Dakorien Moore every game from week one on. But by the end of the season? Maybe every other game. Maybe Dante elevates to a Bo Nix-level passing trajectory. Maybe the Oregon offense offers a brutal rushing attack that also takes the top off just when you’re starting to stack the box. 

Regardless of where Dante starts, there’s one reason primary reason we should all be buying stock on Dante.

Dan Lanning and Will Stein launched Bo Nix into the NFL as an elite passer – Photo by Craig Strobeck

Why We Should Trust Dante Moore: Dan Lanning & Will Stein

Trusting Dan Lanning is easy as an Oregon fan. He stacks progress every season, and is clearly constantly learning. As we all are. Fortunately, Moore has the advantage of an easier schedule this season than last year to get his webbed feet wet. If Dan didn’t believe in Dante, he wouldn’t be under center. Trust the superhuman recruiter to get the right guys in the right places, and locked-in with offensive coordinator Will Stein when Fall rolls around. 

Dante Moore’s Greatest Asset This Season: Offensive Line

If there’s one thing you can say about Oregon year-in and year-out since Lanning took over, it’s that the offensive line will dominate you up front. They had a shaky start to the season last year, but by the end of the regular season, they were crushing front sevens at the first and second level. We did lose some big-time players like Josh Conerly Jr. to the NFL, and he’s not going to be an easy talent to replace. Luckily, the Ducks ALWAYS do up front. Poncho and the boys will get it done. 

Last regular season? It was Ohio State in Autzen. This year might be even tougher – Photo by Eric Becker

Biggest Test of Dante’s Season: Penn State

The biggest game of Moore’s regular season will of course be the whiteout night game in Penn State’s house. Just a couple of weeks away from opening day, it’s too early to project how he’ll be able to react to that environment. But I see Oregon finding a way in that game. They may not go 12-0 like last season; even then, though, the Ducks looked fallible against Wisconsin (and against a handful of other less talented programs, I might add). I could see the Ducks being in a similar spot against a juggernaut in Penn State, and coming out on top. Even if they don’t: expect this to be Dante’s statement game in a B1G Conference that isn’t getting any worse.

Now, can he bring home a B1G Championship for Oregon? Absolutely. Can he get the Ducks deeper in the College Football Playoff than 2024’s team? Definitely. There are just some things out of his control that are going to be crucial to how much he’s going to have to do every week. 

While the secondary may have even improved since last year, the defensive line is a huge question mark. I picked Bear Alexander as the player to watch week one because I see him potentially being polarizing in 2025. I didn’t want to address it then, but since Lanning addressed it himself, how Alexander ended things with teams like USC in the past does worry me. Still, he’s apparently been working his tail off since he got Oregon, and should pair up well with Matayo Uiagalelei to put the pressure on Penn State & help Moore get the Ducks to their first big win of a (hopefully) long season.

Dante Moore is poised, locked in, and ready to take the Ducks to the next level in his time as Oregon’s starter – (Photo by Eric Becker)

Ceiling for 2025 with Dante Moore: Winning Multiple College Football Playoff Games

You never know when a team or quarterback can surprise you, and this feels like it could be one of those shock-the-nation seasons. The Ducks as a team have a long way to go to get there, especially up front on defense. Lacking experience at receiver,tons of NFL Draft picks out the door, the Ducks are more talented than proven in 2025. However, with the schedule they have, I can’t imagine them going lower than 10-2. I think that’s their absolute floor. Going 12-0 would not surprise me. 

On top of potentially making the chip this year, Dante feels like a Heisman hopeful already. If he gets the most out of his athleticism and elevates his passing mechanics through 2025, you’re going to see gangbuster numbers for an reloaded Oregon offense. He should be the perfect asset to this offense as soon as he starts clicking with Kenyon Sadiq, Malik Benson, Dakorien Moore, and Justius Lowe. 

While some of us might feel certain players are more or less talented on the outside, it’ll really just come down to who makes Dante feel comfortable on the field. The reliable chain mover, the red zone threat that’s always open, the safety valve that’ll turn a would-be sack into a first down with big RAC yards. Don’t be surprised if a player like Lowe or Gary Bryant Jr. end up being that guy, even though we all have our money on Sadiq. It’s a long season ahead and there’s a whole LOT to be excited about with Dante under center. Let’s see Lanning get the absolute 110% out of him and get the Ducks deep in the playoffs this season.

Anyway—enough from me, Oregon fans. What do you think Moore’s ceiling is? Who’ll step up early as his next top receiver? Is 10-2 the Ducks’ floor? Let us know in the FishDuck Forum with decorum.

Go Ducks!

Alex Heining
Los Angeles, California
Top Photo By: Steven Chan

Alex Heining

Alex Heining is an Oregon alumni from the graduate class of 2021. After studying sports business and media studies, he has moved into the field of digital marketing as a copywriter and content manager in the Los Angeles area. Still, he loves his Ducks and goes to local high school games all over the Los Angeles and Orange County area to check out new recruits of the future (and a SoFi game or two with the pros). On any given Saturday, expect to find him doing martial arts, playing the guitar, or screaming at the tv over a missed holding penalty.