Oregon Ducks' Will Stein Shares Important Update on Status of Quarterback Room

The Oregon Ducks have yet to announce a starting quarterback for the regular season. Dante Moore is the expected starter with Austin Novosad behind him, but until a decision is made, the two will continue to battle leading up to the season opener.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore during pregame warmups at Autzen Stadium. | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks have had no shortage of elite quarterbacks over the years, but the team enters the regular season with some uncertainty at the position for the first time in the past few seasons.

Ducks fans have been spoiled in the past with quarterbacks Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix and, just this past season, Dillon Gabriel.

Dante Moore and Austin Novosad are now looking to etch their name into this elite conversation headed into the season. Though Moore is the expected starter, the coaching has kept that decision close to the vest. Still, Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein recently provided a positive update on where things stand at that position.

Oregon Quarterback Situation Taking Shape

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore speaks with reporters during Oregon football’s Media Day. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

MORE: Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Reveals Who Won Scrimmage in Fall Camp

MORE: Oregon Ducks Transfers Dillon Thieneman, Bear Alexander Commanding Attention In Practice

MORE: Oregon Ducks, Texas Longhorns Bold Prediction In College Football Playoff

While meeting with the media Tuesday in Eugene, Stein implied that the coaching staff is nearing an official decision. Time is ticking, as kickoff against Montana State on Aug. 30 is just a handful of days away.

"It's been great. It's been, like I said, really competitive," Stein said. "I think it's starting to kind of shape out a little bit for us, and we'll see here in the next week or so where we're gonna go.”

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore against the Oregon State Beavers. | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

The Ducks could either be staying true to the gamesmanship aspect of announcing a starter or they simply are just torn on who will be the starter. The former seems the most likely scenario given Moore's experience and overall ability edge on Novosad, who projects to be Oregon's quarterback of the future if Moore plays his way into the NFL conversation.

Moore served as Gabriel's backup last season, finishing the 2024 campaign with limited action. He went 7 of 8 passing for 49 yards and no touchdowns to go along with one carry for six yards, making appearances against Oregon State, Michigan State, Washington and at the Rose Bowl against Ohio State.

Will Stein Compares Dante Moore to Dillon Gabriel, Bo Nix

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, a former Oregon quarterback, left, and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, right, take a picture with Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein during the Oregon football’s Pro Day Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Ore. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Stein even went as far to say that he sees "a great blend" of Nix and Gabriel in Moore, which is about as high a compliment that a quarterback can receive at the college level.

“He reminds me he's a great blend of like Bo (Nix’s) football, IQ and Dillon (Gabriel) just can grab it, can pull everybody together, which is really unique and special. I think I've said it in him before, but he wears five, he's got a glove on his left hand. I played with Teddy Bridgewater. He does remind me a lot of Teddy. Teddy threw the glove on his right hand, but that's a lofty comparison for me, but he's just got that kind of, that moxie about him, that it factor, that people just gravitate towards.”

A Detroit native, Moore came out of Martin Luther King High School as a five-star quarterback and one of the best players in the 2023 recruiting class. He had offers from programs like LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and many more. 

He was one of the notable names in a 2023 recruiting class that featured quarterbacks like Arch Manning, Nico Iamaleava, Malachi Nelson, Jaden Rashada, Jackson Arnold, Avery Johnson and more.

Moore committed to UCLA and spent just one season with the Bruins in 2023, finishing that year 114 of 213 passing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He then hit the portal and arrived to Oregon last offseason.