Dante Moore‘s ride with the Oregon Ducks has been a rollercoaster, and Ducks fans are abuzz. Following a freshman season at UCLA where he showed great promise but also experienced some growing pains, Moore transferred to Oregon in 2024. He spent much of last season sitting behind veteran Dillon Gabriel, appearing in just five games and going 7-of-8 through the air, almost like he was the ‘break glass in case of emergency’ man. This year, expectations are really high, and we mean, really high. And to add fuel to the fire, there comes a twist…

Well, Moore’s supposed to be the starter quarterback, and the buzz is genuine. Players, coaches, and even recruits are all-in on Moore. Wide receiver Dakorien Moore (not related, merely a crazy coincidence) went on the record saying Dante will win the Heisman this year, he’s got the fifth-best odds in the nation, and the Ducks’ offense is stocked. Former Duck star TE Terrance Ferguson explained Moore made a really smart business decision by returning to Eugene. Now he’s got the keys to the Lamborghini. Oregon’s program is in a great place, with the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff experience of last year behind them now, thanks to head coach Dan Lanning. The Ducks reloaded with the best transfer talent and blue-chip freshmen, so Moore will not lack for talent at his disposal.

However, no matter how much promise you show in the game, there’s always someone who may be better than you and is being noticed. That’s what Spencer McLaughlin talks about in the Locked On Ducks podcast. He shares one of the “hot takes” from an Oregon insider who said: “While both quarterbacks are very capable, referring to Dante Moore and Austin Novosad. Austin Novosad has more potential to lead the Ducks to a national championship than Dante Moore.” Meet 8983-yard, Austin Novosad, the man stealthily turning heads in Eugene and turning the Oregon Ducks’ quarterback competition into a serious toss-up this season.

Novosad has been around the program for almost three years now, learning from big-time names such as Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. Guys like Gary Bryant Jr. have taken notice, particularly when it comes to Novosad’s deep ball-surely, he drops dimes all over the field.

Now, coming back to the part of him being a better QB than Moore. McLaughlin said that he asked the insider why he’s taking such a stance. To this, the insider replied: “What makes me say that is that I see more from Novosad as far as arm talent [is concerned]. Being able to make correct reads and the fact that this is his third year in the Oregon offense.” He further adds, “And he keeps making strides every year. He’s on the cusp of being really special.”

Novosad’s been around longer in the system and has that ‘steady hand’ feel coaches adore. Some people analyze that he’s a better decision-maker when it comes to signal calling and a better fit for Oregon’s offense. There’s also a feeling that the team just vibes with him at the quarterback position; he keeps things moving smoothly, doesn’t force the ball, and knows how to get the guys going when it matters.

Now, Spencer doesn’t seem to be that confident about this theory. “Novosad is in his third year with Will Stein, [and] Dante Moore is in his second. I think that’s a great situation to be in,” he says. “[Novosad is] more experienced than most, so does he has a bunch of game experience, no, but familiarity with the offense is not something that can be overlooked… This is his third year in the system, so he might he might know more at the line of scrimmage, he might have a better feel for the plays and what Stein’s going to call.” 

He’s been in the Oregon system for three years, is intimately familiar with Will Stein‘s offense, and is extremely comfortable at the line of scrimmage. That’s a big plus and a big potential asset, particularly in terms of being familiar with the playbook, reading defenses, and making those snap decisions at the line. But this is the catch: Novosad hasn’t quite had the opportunity to prove himself under actual pressure. Spring game dunks are neat and all, but Spencer doesn’t want to see him go up against high-level defenses before anointing him the next big thing. Moore was a five-star signee for a reason; he’s got the stronger arm, more natural talent, and can sling from all kinds of angles.

Dante Moore: From redshirt to red alert

Oh, the theatrics in Eugene are real this year! If you believed the Oregon Ducks’ quarterback situation was going to be a smooth ride, forget it. Coach Lanning has essentially given Dante Moore a sink-or-swim ultimatum: perform as QB1, or take a seat. And with Penn State awaiting in the opener, the pressure is on like never before. Oregon was a juggernaut last year, rolling to 13-1 before Ohio State sent them packing. But that was Dillon Gabriel’s crew. Now that Gabriel has gone to the NFL, Lanning’s prized signing, Dante Moore, is meant to be ‘the guy’. Lanning did not merely recruit Moore; he pretty much rolled out the green carpet, flipping him from UCLA on a six-figure NIL contract.

Moore’s spring wasn’t Heisman-quality, per se. To be honest, there were times when Austin Novosad seemed the more refined choice, and then, just to mix it up, freshman Luke Moga went out and stole the game in the spring game. Now Moore’s “guaranteed starter” position isn’t quite so guaranteed. Lanning’s message? Earn your stripes, or someone will take your snaps. And just to add insult to injury, Oregon’s opening game is against Penn State team that’s not only bringing back their whole offensive line, but also has Drew Allar.

Ducks fans-on the edge of their seats, munching popcorn, waiting to see whether Dante Moore can stand the heat or Austin Novosad will steal the spotlight. Dan Lanning’s ultimatum is not coach-speak; it’s an actual “prove it or move it” situation, and with Penn State poised to pounce, there is no time for slow starts or rookie errors. The QB theatrics in Eugene are more juicy than any TV drama, and the pressure on Moore is only building.