Oregon’s Dante Moore Looks to Outperform Big Ten Quarterbacks

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore turned heads when he announced his decision to return to Eugene for another season. With former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza headed to the NFL, Moore has the opportunity to establish himself as the top quarterback in the conference.

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Below is a prediction of which 10 quarterbacks will separate themselves from the rest of the Big Ten.

1. Dante Moore - Oregon

Oregon Ducks Dan Lanning Dante Moore Big Ten Julian Sayin Ohio State College Football Playoff Recruiting Rankings — Oregon quarterback Dante Moore walks off the field as the Oregon Ducks face the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Moore should flourish in his second season with the Ducks. While Moore missed out on an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony last season, that will certainly be on the table for Moore in his second year. Moore passed up a first-round draft grade in the 2026 NFL Draft to return, and he will have plenty of weapons with wide receivers Dakorien Moore, Jeremiah McClellan and Evan Stewart all returning for another season.

2. Julian Sayin - Ohio State Buckeyes

Julian Sayin had one of the most impressive seasons for a first-year quarterback. Sayin was able to lead the Buckeyes to the Big Ten championship game as well as the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round against Miami. Sayin accumulated 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Sayin will arguably have the best weapons of any College quarterback next season, as Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is set to return to Columbus for his third season.

3. Jayden Maiava - USC Trojans

Jayden Maiava threw for 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with a total quarterback rating of 89.9 in 2025. The Trojans have been in the top five of recruiting classes the last two seasons, and Maiava will have a plethora of wide receivers to target in the upcoming 2026 season. Maiava and Moore will meet on the field for the second year in a row as the Ducks will play USC in Los Angeles in 2026.

4. Bryce Underwood - Michigan Wolverines

Bryce Underwood was one of the highest recruited players coming out of high school, and elected to sign with Michigan. In his freshman season, Underwood led the Wolverines to a 9-3 record while throwing for 2,428 yards. Underwood did not have the best 2025 season, as he also tossed nine picks. If Underwood progresses well with the Wolverines in his first collegiate offseason, he should be a top-five quarterback in the Big Ten.

5. Josh Hoover - Indiana Hoosiers

Josh Hoover recently landed in Bloomington via the transfer portal from TCU. Hoover’s stats at TCU made headlines, as he threw for 3,472 yards while tossing 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Hoover should improve under coach Curt Cignetti and should be a top-five quarterback in the Big Ten.

6. Rocco Becht - Penn State Nittany Lions

Rocco Becht is another transfer quarterback who will be starting in the Big Ten in 2026. Becht landed in Happy Valley and will play for Penn State after playing for Iowa State in 2025. Becht will have a similar coach at Penn State, as former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was hired to be the head coach of the Nittany Lions this past offseason.

7. Demond Williams Jr. - Washington

Oregon Ducks Dan Lanning Dante Moore Big Ten Julian Sayin Ohio State College Football Playoff Recruiting Rankings Quarterback — Dec 13, 2025; Inglewood, CA, USA; Washington Huskies linebacker Xe'Ree Alexander (10) and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) celebrate after being named offensive and defensive players of the game as they defeating the Boise State Broncos in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Demond Williams Jr. had a tumultuous offseason with Washington, which included him entering the transfer portal and hoping to leave Washington, before leaving the portal and staying with the Huskies. Williams logged 25 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his 2025 season.

8. Nico Iamaleava - UCLA Bruins

Nico Iamaleave has had a tumultuous collegiate career, marked by a controversial transfer to UCLA. Since he's landed in Westwood, he has settled in nicely. Iamaleava logged 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. If Iamaleava can find his form from his playing days at Tennessee, he should greatly improve after another offseason of learning the UCLA offense.

9. Colton Joseph - Wisconsin Badgers

Transfer quarterback Colton Joseph landed in Madison after playing for Old Dominion in the Sun Belt Conference in 2025. Joseph lit up the Sunbelt, logging 2,624 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Joseph should be in the top-10 quarterbacks in the Big Ten with Big Ten weapons now on the perimeter for him to throw to.

10. Drake Lindsay - Minnesota Golden Gophers

Drake Lindsay was a three-star recruit out of Arkansas before he committed to the Golden Gophers. In his 2025 season, Lindsay logged a respectable 16 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

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