Dante Moore Staying at Oregon State
Dante Moore has decided to continue his college football journey at Oregon State for at least one more year. This announcement came on Wednesday, despite the prospect of being drafted second overall by the New York Jets imminently.
Moore expressed his commitment to staying at Oregon State, even in the event that Dylan Raiola, a standout quarterback, transfers to the same school.
“I’m headed back to Oregon State for another year,” Moore shared with ESPN.
This past season marked Moore’s first full year as the starting quarterback at Oregon. He had an impressive run, completing 71.2% of his passes, totaling 3,565 yards, with 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. His football career included a stint at UCLA, where he started a few games but later transferred to Oregon State before the 2024 season and backed up Dillon Gabriel that year.
Stepping into the role of starter last season, Moore led the Ducks to the College Football Playoff semifinals, although they faced a setback in a 56-22 loss to No. 1 Indiana.
Looking ahead, Moore was anticipated to be a top pick, presumably second to Fernando Mendoza, who is likely to win the Heisman Trophy and compete against No. 10 Miami next week for a national championship, aiming for a perfect 16-0 season. The Jets hold the second pick in the draft, leaving them in a peculiar position concerning their quarterback situation after utilizing Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook this season.
The Jets have other potential quarterback options like Trinidad Chambliss and Ty Simpson, along with the 16th and 33rd picks in the upcoming draft. However, they aren’t the only team in a complicated situation. Since Raiola, a former five-star recruit, is making moves, it’s plausible that he could find himself backing up Moore in 2026.
If Moore secures the starting position in 2026, it will mark a significant moment, as it would be the first time in a while that Dan Lanning has maintained the same starting quarterback for consecutive seasons, something that hasn’t happened since Bo Nix’s tenure.
