Oregon news: Dante Moore’s NFL Draft admission will fire up teammates, fans

Oregon has high expectations for 2026 after being eliminated in the semi-finals of the College Football Playoffs by Indiana. The team looks poised to make another run at the playoffs, with Oregon having one of the best rosters in the nation.

One of the major parts of the roster is the return of Dante Moore. Moore could have gone off the NFL Draft, and likely would have been a top pick. Instead, he is returning to the Ducks, and now, he is explaining why he returned, per Pete Nakos of On3.

“It was a tough decision, but overall kind of just felt like I wasn’t prepared yet for my next step,” Moore said about his decision. “There was a lot that came with it, but overall, I’m glad I made that decision. I’m going to apply 100% effort to whatever I do this upcoming year to help me get prepared for next year. I’m just excited to come back and get with this team. I love this team. We put a lot of work in together, and we have a lot of great things coming ahead of us.”

Returning to Oregon was also inspired by his teammates. The Ducks are 11th in the nation in returning production, according to Bill Connelly of ESPN. He gets to return and play with many of the same players from last season.

“When I look into my teammates’ eyes and see how dedicated they are to the game, [it] makes me play harder for the teammate next to me,” he said. “I don’t intend to look at my competition as much as look at my brothers and know their why, know their reason why they play football. At the end of the day, we just lock in and handle business. My teammates help push me day-to-day. That’s my why, my teammates.”

Oregon is expected to contend for a Big Ten title in 2026. They sit just behind Ohio State and Indiana in terms of odds to be the conference champion, according to odds provided by DraftKings. They begin their season on September 5 at home against Boise State.