Oregon’s 2025 quarterback picture has become a national talking point as Dante Moore steps in following the exits of Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel, two of the most seasoned quarterbacks in NCAA history. Unlike the previous two years, when the Ducks leaned on veteran transfers, this season hinges on Moore’s progression.
Although Oregon sits among the national title favorites, some doubts persist. The core issue is whether Moore, who struggled during his stint at UCLA, can develop fast enough to meet championship expectations.
Spotlight on Dante Moore: Bold Expectations Set for Oregon’s 2025 QB1 After Nix, Gabriel Departures
Oregon has turned to Dante Moore, a former five-star recruit and ex-UCLA starter, to lead its offense in 2025. After transferring to the Ducks in December 2023, Moore now inherits a program accustomed to veteran quarterback leadership following the impactful stints of Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel.
Despite a rocky freshman season at UCLA, where he logged 213 of his 220 career pass attempts under Chip Kelly, Moore receives significant support entering the fall. On3’s J.D. PicKell believes Moore has what it takes to meet Oregon’s championship standards.
“My expectation for him is the expectation that’s been set there from Bo Nix to Dillon Gabriel,” PicKell said. “I expect Dante Moore to be a Heisman finalist. I do. It sounds like we’re asking a lot of the guy. Are we? Is he any less talented from a physical gifting standpoint than Dylan Gabriel? I don’t think so.”
My expectations for Dante Moore: Be a Heisman finalist.
Last 2 Duck QBs set the bar. I see no reason why Moore can’t get it done. https://t.co/8Fp5QIU6U0 pic.twitter.com/EpliPuyt9N
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) July 2, 2025
PicKell pointed to Moore’s year of development in Eugene as a major factor.
“Got a full year in the system,” he said. “Dillon Gabriel had all of a spring and a fall camp to get dialed in. All the boxes are checked for me.”
Oregon’s financial investment in Moore also signals high internal confidence.
“They brought him over to sit for a year and decided to pay him for a year while he was sitting,” PicKell added. “You know how much you got to believe in a guy to pay for a player that’s not actually going to play for another season?”
Moore himself highlighted the physical changes he made this offseason.
“It’s more just to get faster, cut down my body fat,” he said. “PR is my fastest speed this spring… I’ve been doing really well.”
He credited offensive coordinator Will Stein for aiding his adjustment.
“I love him to death,” Moore said. “He’s played the quarterback position. He knows how it feels to be out there…he knows how to get us back in rhythm.”
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With Nix and Gabriel both having earned Heisman finalist nods in back-to-back years, Moore faces the challenge of extending that standard into a new era.