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Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti Doesn't Hold Back On Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore

Ahead of the top-10 matchup between the No. 3 Oregon Ducks and No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti talked about Ducks quarterback Dante Moore and the 'impressive' way in which Moore leads the Oregon offense.
Charlie Viehl|
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Indiana versus Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Oregon DucksIndiana Hoosiers

The No. 3 Oregon Ducks and No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers are preparing to play in one of the biggest college football games of the weekend, and ESPN's College GameDay was in Eugene, Oregon, to preview the top-10 matchup. In an interview with GameDay, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti shared some of his thoughts on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and his ability to lead the Ducks offense.

Curt Cignetti on 'Impressive' Dante Moore

"Dante Moore is very impressive. He’s got a natural feel for the game. Make all the throws. When the play breaks down, he can go," said Cignetti.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium
Sep 20, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Indiana is known for its high-flying offense and quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but the Hoosiers defense excels at creating turnovers. Indiana defensive backs Louis Moore and Amare Ferrell both have three interceptions so far. In addition, Hoosiers cornerback D'Angelo Ponds is expected to return from a lower-body injury against Oregon.

Can the Hoosiers contain Dante Moore, the current favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on FanDuel Sportsbook with betting odds at +500? Moore and the Ducks do have home-field advantage as Indiana traveled across the country to play Oregon.

ndiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during the fourth quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium
Sep 27, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during the fourth quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Cignetti talked about bringing his team into a hostile environment like Autzen Stadium on College GameDay:

"It’ll be loud, it’ll be crazy. We’re a confident team. If we play our game, that’s all we can ask," the Indiana coach continued.

What Dan Lanning Said About Indiana

Meanwhile, Oregon coach Dan Lanning shared some of his thoughts on Indiana's offense and defense.

"Run first mentality, ability to take the top off with speed. Our connection has to make us strong, everybody having each other’s back. . . . They’re very multiple. A lot of edge pressure that we have to be ready to be able to pick up and attack," Lanning said.

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Earlier in the show, Lanning joined the GameDay crew. The interview ended with Lanning and Pat McAfee taking off their shirts, but Lanning also spent some time talking about how the Ducks plan to defend Indiana's offense:

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, left, and host Pat McAfee strip off their shirts to rally the crowd ESPN’s “College GameDay
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, left, and host Pat McAfee strip off their shirts to rally the crowd during ESPN’s “College GameDay” on the campus of the University of Oregon on Oct. 11, 2025, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"In a game like this, you kind of have to cheat the system. We're kind of halfway on this, and a little halfway on that. I always tell our players, 'You got to farm your lanes. Everybody's got a job. Do your job. Don't worry about doing somebody else's.' It'll be big to be able to take away their big wideouts on the perimeter, and they've got a great run game that we've got to be able to handle with the defensive line and the linebackers up front," said Lanning.

College GameDay Picks

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban smiles as he is on set during ESPN’s College GameDay on location on the Qua
Oct. 4, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Former Alabama coach Nick Saban smiles as he is on set during ESPN’s College GameDay on location on the Quad at the University of Alabama before the Alabama versus Vanderbilt game. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Can Oregon pick up another top-10 win inside Autzen Stadium? The College GameDay crew certainly believes in Lanning and the Ducks as nearly the entire cast picked Oregon to beat Indiana. The only pick for the Hoosiers came from Pat McAfee.

"I love Dan Lanning, I love the way Oregon plays. I’m going with the Ducks," said Saban when picking the Ducks.

  • Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. 
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Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is the deputy editor for the Oregon Ducks, Colorado Buffaloes, and USC Trojans on SI. He has written hundreds of articles for SI and has covered events like the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician, holding a degree in Music and Philosophy from Boston College. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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