Oregon Ducks quarterback battle far from over, a surprising name emerging late in fall camp
Dante Moore is expected to be the starter for the Oregon Ducks in 2025 but that may not be a guarantee.
Most Oregon fans have penciled in Dante Moore as the Ducks’ next starting quarterback, taking over for Dillon Gabriel in 2025. But ESPN’s Pete Thamel says it might not be as straightforward as expected.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Thamel noted that while Moore, a former Five-Star recruit who transferred from UCLA last year, is the clear favorite, Austin Novosad could still see meaningful action this season.
“I think that’s the expectation right now, as you look at Oregon, they’ve been in the program. They paid him a lot of money to be the backup last year,” Thamel said on Friday’s The Pat McAfee Show episode. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we see some real snaps from Austin Novosad,” Thamel said. “He’s a really talented young guy… I think Moore is ahead right now, but it’s not a done deal.”
Moore redshirted in 2024, appearing only in late-game situations and going 7-for-8 for 49 yards. Before coming to Eugene, he played nine games for UCLA in 2023, starting five and throwing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine picks.
Novosad, a four-star recruit and the No. 10 quarterback in Moore’s 2023 recruiting class, has yet to play significant snaps for Oregon but remains highly regarded by the staff.
This situation isn’t ideal, as I am sure the Ducks coaching staff would have hoped Moore would have taken the opportunity and outperformed the competition. The fact that it’s not a slam dunk means that the Ducks may not be as sold on their highly priced quarterback of the future.
Alternatively, having a backup quarterback you can feel good about is certainly reassuring for Lanning and his staff. Knowing that the dropoff between Moore and Novosad isn’t as significant will ease some stress if an injury ever happens.
With Gabriel leaving after a 3,857-yard, 30-touchdown season, the Ducks’ QB competition will be worth monitoring. Moore still has the inside track, but Novosad’s upside could lead to an interesting two-quarterback storyline in 2025.
