Fernando Mendoza may still be the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the quarterback race is far from settled. With Indiana and Oregon set to collide again in the College Football Playoff semifinals, the sport is about to get a rare, head-to-head look at the two passers who could define the top of the board.
Most early projections have Mendoza first and Dante Moore second, yet a former NFL quarterback is not convinced that order should hold.
Brady Quinn Sees Dante Moore As the True Franchise-Changing Prospect
Speaking on the Dan Patrick Show, Brady Quinn made it clear that if Moore declares for the draft, he believes the Oregon quarterback has a real case to be the first name called.
“If Dante Moore comes out, I’m not so sure he’s not going to be the No. 1 overall pick,” Quinn said. “I think there’s a real argument to be made in his upside, his skill set.”
That take cuts directly against the momentum Mendoza has built during a dominant season at Indiana. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Miami native transferred from Cal and immediately became the face of a Hoosiers team that ripped through the Big Ten.
“If Dante Moore comes out, I’m not so sure he’s not going to be the #1 overall pick. I think there’s a real argument to be made in his upside, his skillset.”
– @Brady_Quinn isn’t quite so sure that Fernando Mendoza should be the consensus first overall pick. pic.twitter.com/yXzffaDQU3
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 9, 2026
Mendoza led IU to a perfect 13-0 regular season, won the Heisman Trophy and every major quarterback award, and put up 3,172 passing yards with 42 total touchdowns against just six interceptions. His ability to read defenses, operate from the pocket, and stay calm under pressure has made him a favorite among evaluators who value processing and precision.
Quinn even offered a flattering pro comparison for Mendoza, likening his game to Kirk Cousins in terms of rhythm, timing, and command of structure. But that comparison also reveals the concern.
“That’s why I was saying this could be the No. 1,” Quinn said of Moore. “Let’s take away the college stuff. Let’s look at pro potential. When I watch the tape of these guys, I sit there and look at Dante Moore, and I say, yeah, that’s the guy I probably feel like has the higher upside.”
Moore, just 20 years old, has become the engine of Oregon’s playoff run after spending a developmental year behind Dillon Gabriel. He completed nearly 73 percent of his passes this season for 3,280 yards and 30 total touchdowns, and his arm talent consistently shows up on film.
Quinn called him the “purest passer” in the class, pointing to his ability to drive the ball, layer throws, and create off script. Those traits are why Moore has drawn comparisons to C.J. Stroud from several draft analysts.
The timing of Quinn’s comments could not be better. The Peach Bowl semifinal will feature a rematch between Indiana and Oregon, with Mendoza and Moore going head-to-head on the same field. It is a rare moment in draft history, comparable to when Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota faced off in the 2015 Rose Bowl, before they were selected first and second overall.
That game also carries major stakes for the Raiders and Jets, who currently hold the top two selections in the 2026 draft and are widely expected to target a quarterback. Most projections have Mendoza going to Las Vegas and Moore to New York, but Quinn is far from sold on that pecking order.
“If he declares, I would lean right now, based on my film study on both, probably on Dante Moore,” Quinn said.
Mendoza has the résumé. Moore has the ceiling. With the playoff spotlight about to shine on both, the No. 1 overall pick is suddenly very much in play.
