As Oregon reaches the CFP semifinal stage, Dante Moore faces Fernando Mendoza with a national title berth and potential No. 1 overall draft implications.
Draft stakes rise as Dante Moore faces Fernando Mendoza in CFP semifinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ahead of the Peach Bowl, Dante Moore didn’t sound like a quarterback chasing noise or narratives. He sounded grounded in routine, reflection, and purpose as the Oregon Ducks prepare for a college football playoff semifinal.
Fresh off his Orange Bowl performance, Moore smiled when asked about the offensive MVP trophy that briefly slipped away in the postgame moment. “I didn’t know they were announcing MVP and stuff. I was more engaged with the fans,” he said. “But that trophy was super heavy. A lot of oranges, of course.” The moment carried weight beyond hardware. “As a kid, you dreamed about those things, and glad we got the win and we’re carrying on to this week.”
That carryover has been intentional. Moore admitted earlier this season he allowed the moment to grow larger than necessary. “I made the game bigger than what it was,” he said. This time, the preparation has stayed familiar by design. “Making sure I have the same routine when it comes to watching film, preparing my body, just getting ready for this moment like I’ve been doing these past weeks.”
The lessons from Oregon’s first meeting with Indiana remain central to his mindset. Moore was direct in his self-evaluation. “I was too fast on my progressions,” he said. “There were some times where there was an open guy… kind of seeing ghosts out there.” He also acknowledged rushing clean pockets. “There were some times where I could climb into the pocket, and there was no need for me to move.”
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Those moments reshaped how seriously Moore now treats the pre-snap process, especially protection calls. “Everybody can spin the ball, but you can’t spin the ball when you’re on your back,” he said. “You gotta make sure you get the protections right.” It’s a philosophy driven by awareness and longevity, one he said he would pass along to any young quarterback entering the college game.
Despite the magnitude of the stage, Moore emphasized that Oregon hasn’t tried to reinvent itself. “We’re still the same offense. We’re just having fun,” he said. “Practice we’ve been having a little bit of mistakes, but that’s what practice is all about. You gotta learn from it.” He credited Oregon’s ability to adjust personnel and game plans without losing its identity.
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Beyond the semifinal stakes, the matchup carries long-term weight. With NFL evaluators watching closely, Moore and Fernando Mendoza could be competing not just for a trip to the national championship game, but for positioning atop draft boards, with both quarterbacks viewed in some league circles as potential No. 1 overall picks in April’s NFL Draft.
Moore acknowledged the attention but made clear where his focus remains. “I’m human. I see it on social media,” he said. “But if I do, I’m thinking about myself and I’m not thinking about the 10 other guys on the field with me.” For Moore, the responsibility to teammates outweighs any individual storyline.
At the center of that balance is his faith. “Gotta give…all glory to God,” Moore said. “There’s been many times where I wanted to quit.” He described that perspective as the anchor that steadies him when expectations rise and the spotlight intensifies.
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