Dante Moore is staying in Eugene.

The redshirt sophomore quarterback announced his intent to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to the Ducks for the upcoming NCAA season Wednesday. It’s the first time since Bo Nix played a second year for the Ducks that they’ll have a consistent starting quarterback. Moore was eligible for the draft for the first time in his career in 2026.

“I feel like coming back is the best thing for me to make sure that when that day does happen, I’m fully prepared; I’m able to go and play my best ball.” Moore said on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

The 20-year-old had NFL Draft potential, and was consistently mocked in the top five picks among a quarterback class that includes Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, but elected to return to school with a decision broadcast live SportsCenter.

“As a kid, since I was four years old, I’ve dreamed about being in the NFL,” Moore said live on SportsCenter. “But of course, this team, we’ve been through a lot, and a lot of people are returning, so I feel like we’ve got exciting things coming this year and I’m excited to keep pushing my team.”

Moore started for the Ducks in 2025 after sitting behind Dillon Gabriel as the Ducks put together a Big Ten Championship-winning season in 2024. As the starter, he threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Oregon (13-2), and overcame significant wide receiver injuries to Evan Stewart, Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. to helm the Ducks to two College Football Playoff victories. In the Peach Bowl against No. 1 Indiana, though, he turned the ball over three times, including a first-play interception returned for a touchdown.

It’s not clear yet what his weapons will look like in 2026, but Dakorien Moore is a true sophomore, while Stewart said before the Orange Bowl that he did see himself in college for another year, and that he’d like to play with Dante Moore. Redshirt sophomore Jeremiah McClellan is also expected to return for his third year in Eugene.

Moore’s arm talent was undeniable, but he was efficient as well for an Oregon offense that ranked fourth nationally in completion percentage (71.36 percent) and 13th in yards per pass (8.6). As of Jan. 11, the Ducks were sixth in yards per play, eighth in points per play, 12th in yards per game and 13th in points per game.

For Oregon, Moore’s return means consistency as former offensive coordinator Will Stein leaves to become the head coach at the University of Kentucky. Should the Ducks hire for the vacant position internally, he’ll continue in a system that catered to his strengths in 2025 with a complement of weapons that can take advantage of his arm talent.

He’ll be backed up by a growing room that now includes former five-star recruit Dylan Raiola. The former Nebraska quarterback committed to Oregon on Jan. 12, and ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that if Moore was to stay in Eugene, Raiola would sit for a year and replace Moore in 2027.

“He’s a great dude,” Moore said of Raiola on ESPN. “Of course, we haven’t talked much, but I’ve just seen him and how he completes. I know that when he comes here, he’s going to be a great guy for the quarterback room. I want to make sure that I give him.my ideas, my thoughts that Dillon (Gabriel) gave me.”