It has been a highly disappointing year for the Oregon Ducks. Oregon came into the season expecting to contend for a national championship, but after a third loss of the season, those dreams are likely over. Further, Dante Moore has been injured. Moore suffered a concussion against USC and has not returned to the field. Now, it has been announced that Moore will not be returning for Oregon this year.

With Moore out for the year, questions have turned to the future of the quarterback, and Pete Thamel of ESPN is discussing Moore's plans.

“Dante Moore is obviously not going to return this year, and what I've been told is Dante Moore is going to stick in Eugene and stick with Oregon and operate as their scout team quarterback for the rest of the year. Remember, Matt, if Dante Moore had come out in the previous draft, he likely would have been the number two overall pick in the last draft,” Thamel said. “Dante Moore had a solid season. It wasn't the stepping stone he had hoped, and many had hoped, to take at the NFL level. The overwhelming expectation is that Dante Moore is going to declare for the NFL Draft after this season. He's considered a first-round pick. It might not have been what it was, but Dante Moore is likely going to go in the first round.”

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Moore was once ranked as the top quarterback in both the 2026 NFL Draft Class and the 2027 class. Still, he has fallen behind others in a loaded draft class that includes Drew Mestemaker, Darian Mensah, Trinidad Chambliss, and Arch Manning. Moore's draft status will be monitored for the rest of the season and into the offseason. Until then, he will continue to prepare for the next level while helping Oregon out. The Ducks return to the field on Saturday, hosting Northwestern.