Moore Among Several Key Contributors Back for 2026

EUGENE, Ore. — The 2025 Oregon football season ended before Dante Moore was ready for it to be over. When it comes to entering the NFL Draft, Moore wants to make sure he's ready and that the timing is on his terms.

Moore announced that he will return to the UO football team for the 2026 season on Wednesday, the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. He was one of several draft-eligible Ducks considered a potential early round pick who opted to stay at the University of Oregon for another year.

The Ducks did lose two key contributors from the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal team to this year's draft, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman. But the entire defensive front has announced its return, and Moore made his declaration Wednesday on ESPN's "SportsCenter."

"All my life has been about being the most prepared as I can be for any situation I go into," said Moore, who started five games at UCLA as a true freshman in 2023, then showed his maturity in transferring to Oregon to redshirt behind Dillon Gabriel in 2024 before taking over as the Ducks' starter in 2025.

"When it comes to making my (NFL Draft) decision, of course I want to feel the most prepared and do what's best for my situation, especially as a quarterback. With my decision, it's been very tough; I've prayed a lot about it, talked to many people — my mentors and people I look up to. With that being said, of course I'll be coming back to Oregon for one more year."

The Oregon Ducks take on the James Madison University Dukes in round one of the 2025 CFP at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on December 20, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

The Oregon Ducks take on the James Madison University Dukes in round one of the 2025 CFP at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on December 20, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

Moore's return means he'll spend another season receiving snaps from center Iapani Laloulu, one of the first draft-eligible Ducks from the 2025 team to announce he intended to return in 2026. And Moore will have one of his primary targets back from 2025, as tight end Jamari Johnson announced his intent to return after catching 32 passes for 510 yards and three touchdowns this past season.

Moore completed 296-of-412 passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore in 2025, with 10 interceptions. His pass efficiency rating of 163.72 ranks eighth nationally, pending the CFP championship game.

On the other side of the ball, edge defenders Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti also are returning in 2026, as are starting defensive tackles Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington. Inside linebacker Jerry Mixon will be another returning starter in the front seven, he announced Wednesday.

The Oregon Ducks take on the James Madison University Dukes in round one of the 2025 CFP at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on December 20, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

The Ducks recently completed a 13-2 season that included the first ever College Football Playoff game at Autzen Stadium, and the program's first ever Orange Bowl win, in the CFP quarterfinal round. The semifinal appearance at the Peach Bowl saw the Ducks raise the bar after losing in the quarterfinals a year earlier, and they'll look to raise the bar again in 2026 with Moore back at quarterback.

"At the end of the day, I feel like I can still learn so much more," he said on "SportsCenter" on Wednesday. "As a kid, since I was 4 years old, I've dreamed about being in the NFL. 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."