In today’s day and age of college football, it’s commonplace for a player, especially a quarterback, to transfer if they are not getting the playing time they want or think they deserve.
Even if a young player is in a position battle for the starting role, they will often transfer to a program where they know they will be the day one starter. However, that is not the case for Oregon quarterback Austin Novosad, who is still with the Ducks, despite being deep in a quarterback battle with former five-star Dante Moore.
Oregon QB Austin Novosad Ends Transfer Speculation With Clear Statement About His Future
Austin Novosad is a former four-star quarterback prospect and signed with the Oregon Ducks as a member of the program’s 2023 recruiting class.
After sitting behind Bo Nix in 2023, Novosad again had to wait his turn in 2024 as the Ducks brought in transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel to be the starter last season. In addition to Gabriel, head coach Dan Lanning added transfer and former five-star Dante Moore to the quarterback room.
These moves have made Novosad’s path to becoming the Ducks’ starter difficult. Despite the challenge, the young quarterback is showing his determination as he competes with Moore to be Oregon’s starter in 2025.
In a recent interview at the Manning Passing Academy, Novosad explained why he has not transferred to another program despite many analysts projecting Dante Moore to be the Ducks’ starter next season.
Novosad credited the Oregon coaching staff for his decision to stay, believing that the Ducks will set him up for future success.
Caught up with @DripFB grad Austin Novosad…
Asked him about his decision to stay at Oregon and battle for their QB1 spot
“That’s just who I am, I’m a competitor. I love the program, I didn’t want to leave”
I also had to know who had the best golf swing on the Ducks roster… pic.twitter.com/D8cBO0nCqP
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) June 27, 2025
“I’m a competitor, I love the program, I did not want to leave,” Novosad said. “I think Coach Stein and Coach Lanning speak for themselves. Just the consistency I mentioned earlier, they show that every day.”
Novosad continued, “I wanted to be at a program where I could showcase my ability and set myself up for the future.”
It’s not a common mindset in the age of the transfer portal and NIL, and Novosad has probably heard from other programs that are willing to give him the starting job.
Novosad’s determination at Oregon might pay off in the long run. Lanning has yet to name the team’s starter for the 2025 season and will likely wait until the start of the season to do so.
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Even if Novosad loses the competition with Moore, it’s clear that the young quarterback has a good head on his shoulders and his deeply committed to the program that signed him back in 2023.
