Dante Moore is uncertain about the future after a brutal CFP Peach Bowl loss to Indiana

The season of the No. 5 Oregon Ducks came to an unusual end on Friday night with a 56-22 loss to the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers. College Football Playoff semifinals at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, was nearly flawless, completing 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Oregon’s redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-39 attempts, but committed three first-half turnovers that put the Ducks behind 35-7.

Moore, who entered the season after a redshirt year behind Dillon Gabriel in 2024, finished his first full season as Oregon’s starter with 3,565 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, along with two rushing scores. Moore’s performance in 2025 placed him among the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him ahead of Mendoza on his Big Board based solely on talent evaluation. Still, Friday’s performance exposed some concerns about three momentum-changing turnovers, including a pick-six on the Ducks’ opening drive and two first-half fumbles, one of which came when Moore collided with running back Deer Hill Jr.

After the defeat, Moore was not committed to his future.

“I’m going to enjoy this moment, most importantly, I’m going to hug and thank my teammates,” he said at the post-match press conference. “But at the end of the day, I don’t know my decision yet. I’ll talk to coach (Dan) Lanning and my family and everybody, but at the end of the day, I don’t want to think about that right now. I want to think about my teammates and give them love.”

The deadline for the NFL underclassmen draft is Jan. 23, giving Moore and other playoff contenders a short window to enter.

Mendoza led Indiana to a perfect 15-0 record, while Moore, a five-star recruit out of high school who had a rocky start at UCLA, showed both promise and areas for improvement. Before the Peach Bowl, Moore completed 72.9% of his passes, throwing for 28 touchdowns with nine interceptions, and Oregon relied on the strength, accuracy and leadership of his arm to reach the CFP.

Moore has two years of eligibility remaining and could return to Eugene in 2026 to continue his development. Analysts, including Dane Brugler, believe there is a good chance he will decide to return, especially after facing intense pressure from a top defense like the Hoosiers. If he declares, Moore is projected as a potential top-five pick, likely second overall behind the New York Jets, who couldn’t solve their quarterback woes in 2025 after veteran Aaron Rodgers left for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rotating between Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor3 and Brady Color, and Brady Color is 3-14.

As the Ducks look ahead to next season, Moore’s decision will significantly affect Oregon’s roster and quarterback picture in the upcoming draft. At just 20 years old, he has time to weigh his options, but the outcome of the Peach Bowl could have a significant impact on whether he tests the NFL waters immediately or returns to Eugene to refine his game.