USA TODAY says Dante Moore is the top-ranked quarterback in the country

It seems as if all the hesitation of Oregon going with Dante Moore as the starting quarterback for the 2025 season was unwarranted.

Moore is proving all the naysayers wrong in a big way, as he has been one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the country through the first five weeks of the season. He more than proved his worth by leading the Ducks to a thrilling 30-24 win at Penn State, where he was nearly flawless.

USA TODAY has recognized Oregon's quarterback play by putting Moore No. 1 in their weekly QB rankings. According to Paul Myerberg, Moore might be better than his predecessors Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel. He's also a Heisman Trophy candidate.

"In many ways, Moore is outplaying the standard set by Gabriel in his one year as Oregon’s starter," he said. "Moore has one interception in 134 attempts. He’s averaging 8.9 yards per attempt against Power Four teams. He’s been a valuable runner, gaining 122 yards on 5.1 yards per carry, and used his legs to extend several key gains against Penn State. Moore’s success has been a testament to his talent and Oregon’s forward-thinking succession plan heading into last season."

Moore's running ability might be the surprise as he was being touted as a pocket passer. While he's not Marcus Mariota in that regard, the Oregon signal caller has shown the ability to run when necessary in order to get a big first down. He also has the sense to slide and not take a hit to preserve his health, something that is essential for the Ducks to go where they want to go this season.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dante Moore leads USA TODAY's quarterback rankings