Dante Moore Returns to Oregon: See Ducks’ 2026-27 National Championship Odds

• Dante Moore is returning to Oregon for the 2026 season instead of entering the NFL Draft
• The Ducks sit at +800 odds to win the 2026-27 national championship on DraftKings
• Moore turned down a projected No. 2 overall pick and $50 million guaranteed

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore announced Wednesday he’s returning to the Ducks for the 2026 season. The 20-year-old turned down a chance to be the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft and an estimated $50 million in guaranteed money to chase a national championship.

The decision immediately shifted college football betting markets. Oregon’s national championship odds jumped to +800 on DraftKings, tied with Georgia for fourth-best odds in the country. Only Ohio State (+600), Indiana (+700), and Texas (+750) have better numbers heading into the 2026 season.

2026-27 National Championship Odds

Odds as of Jan. 14 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Oregon’s +800 odds translate to an 11.1% implied probability of winning the national championship. The Ducks have the third-best odds in the Big Ten behind Ohio State (14.3%) and Indiana (12.5%), but ahead of traditional powers like Notre Dame and Alabama.

Moore’s return puts Oregon right in the national championship conversation. The Ducks finished 13-2 this season and reached the College Football Playoff semifinals before losing to Indiana 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. That brutal ending drove Moore’s decision to come back.

Why Dante Moore Returned to Oregon

Moore announced on ESPN that he wants one more year to prepare for the NFL and chase a national championship with the Ducks. The Peach Bowl loss played a big role in his decision.

Moore threw a pick-six on the opening play and lost two fumbles as Indiana built a 35-7 halftime lead. He finished with three turnovers in what could have been his final college game.

With only 20 career college starts, he’s below the 25-start baseline NFL executives look for in quarterback prospects. One more year gives him 35-plus starts and another chance to work on his game.

Moore’s 2025 Season Stats

Moore’s first season as Oregon’s starter showed why he was projected as a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His numbers ranked among the best in college football:

Moore also earned Orange Bowl Offensive MVP honors after completing 26 of 33 passes for 234 yards in Oregon’s CFP quarterfinal victory over Texas Tech.

He transferred to Oregon from UCLA after a rough freshman season, where he completed just 53.5% of his passes. Spending 2024 backing up Dillon Gabriel and learning Dan Lanning’s system paid off.

Oregon’s Loaded Roster for 2026

Moore’s decision came after Oregon’s entire starting defensive line announced they’re returning. Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander, A’Mauri Washington, and Teitum Tuioti all turned down NFL Draft opportunities to come back.

The Ducks also return key offensive weapons. Wide receiver Dakorien Moore was a primary target this season. Tight end Jamari Johnson (32 catches, 510 yards, 3 touchdowns) is back after considering the NFL. Running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. return to lead the backfield.

Oregon lost safety Dillon Thieneman and tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL Draft, but added elite safety Koi Perich through the transfer portal. Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola also transferred in and will serve as Moore’s backup.

Dante Moore’s Heisman Trophy Odds

Moore sits at +1300 to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy on FanDuel, tied for sixth-best odds. Texas quarterback Arch Manning leads at +750, followed by Notre Dame’s Riley Carr at +900.

Moore became a Heisman frontrunner during Oregon’s double-overtime win over Penn State in September, throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.

He didn’t finish in the top of the Heisman voting this past season, but heads into 2026 as one of the early frontrunners. Another year in Dan Lanning’s system should help him grow as a leader and get better at reading defenses.

Oregon’s National Championship Chances in 2026

Oregon enters the 2026 College Football Playoff race as one of three Big Ten teams with real national championship odds. The conference looks dominant heading into next season:

The Ducks are returning more talent than almost any other team in college football. With Moore and the whole defensive line coming back, Oregon has one of the most complete rosters in the country.

They did lose to Indiana twice this past season, including that 56-22 blowout in the CFP semifinal. But a 13-2 record and a spot in the Playoff showed they can compete with anyone.

The one red flag? Both offensive coordinator Will Stein and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi left for other opportunities. We’ve seen countless times that replacing elite coordinators can derail championship seasons. Ohio State struggled with coordinator changes this year after losing some of their best assistants.

Still, with Moore back under center and the roster loaded, Oregon enters 2026 as a true championship contender. If you believe the Ducks can bounce back from their losses to Indiana, those +800 odds might be worth jumping on.