No. 5 Oregon football (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) is getting closer to the first College Football Playoff home game in Autzen Stadium history. The Ducks host No. 12-seeded James Madison University (12-1, 8-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday in Eugene, and offensive players and coaches spoke Monday on the matchup.

Quarterback Dante Moore will start the first postseason game of his career with offensive coordinator Will Stein, who took the head job at the University of Kentucky, on his headset. It’s unclear yet whether he’ll have his full complement of weapons, but Stein felt that Moore had reached a high level as the Ducks head into December.

Oregon WRs Evan Stewart and Gary Bryant Jr. in group stretches at the open-to-media portion of practice Monday morning: pic.twitter.com/Pz2KmTogCN

— Owen Murray (@OwenMurraySEA) December 15, 2025

Wide receivers Evan Stewart, Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. all stretched with the team during an open-to-media period of practice. All three have missed time this year, and were listed as OUT for the Ducks’ win over Washington Nov. 29. 

“Everybody’s closer than they were yesterday,” head coach Dan Lanning said. “It’s good seeing guys out there.”

Dakorien Moore underneath a punt at open portion of practice: pic.twitter.com/vxjdt1DzQN

— Owen Murray (@OwenMurraySEA) December 15, 2025

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has thrived even without some of his top weapons, though. The redshirt sophomore said that “there’s not a decision yet” on his future; he’s been noted as a first-round talent in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but could return to Eugene for another season.

“It’s been interesting,” Moore said. “So many thoughts and so many things going on in my head, and I feel like having Coach Lanning and having a support team that helps me through my everyday life and making sure I stay focused on the main thing.”

He also said that he was “smiling ear-to-ear” with the news that Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein will be the next head coach at Kentucky. Stein said that all his energy is focused on the Ducks — Lanning said that, “Our hours haven’t changed, and when we’re here, it’s focused on Oregon, right? And then outside of that time is when you have the opportunity to work on things for your other opportunities.”

Oregon HC Dan Lanning on Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi:

“There’s a lot of guys in this building, and they know that this has never been just about them right on either side of the ball. We have a lot of coaches involved in that prep, but ultimately they’re handling it really well.”

— Owen Murray (@OwenMurraySEA) December 15, 2025

Stein, who is also Oregon’s quarterbacks coach, has watched Moore’s growth as last year’s backup became this year’s starter.

“I think Dante’s grown in a lot of ways, honestly, he’s playing at a really high rate right now,” Stein said. “He’s operating the offense like you want. I think the biggest thing is operation — being able to take the huddle, call the play…He’s to a point now where I can just kind of start the play call and he knows what I’m about to call.”

Stein will remain Oregon’s offensive coordinator and play caller throughout the Ducks’ College Football Playoff run. Oregon faces JMU on Dec. 20, with kickoff set for 4:30 PM Pacific Time.