2026 Oregon Ducks Offseason Preview: QB strong with Dante Moore back

The Oregon Ducks are known for having a strong quarterback room. They’ve seen the likes of Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel go through the program over the past few years. Last year, Dante Moore led Oregon State onto the field as one of the best pure passers in the country.

It was announced Wednesday that Moore will return for another season in 2026.

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Rather than declaring for the NFL Draft, Moore said he wanted to draft again in Eugene to put the finishing touches on Oregon so it can confidently be described as one of the best quarterback rooms in the country.

While several transfer portal departures over the past week have changed things, Oregon also went out and grabbed former five-star prospect Dylan Raiola from Nebraska, who will now sit behind Moore and develop, much like Moore did with Gabriel a year ago.

While we still have a few months of offseason, and spring ball serves as a breather in the middle of the calendar, let’s take a look inside Oregon State’s quarterback room to see how things are set up for next season, to see who’s leaving, who’s coming back, and which players will be joining the program.

returning player

QB Dante Moore

Career Statistics: 29 games — 417 of 633 for 5,224 yards, 41 touchdowns, 19 sacks

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Dante Moore is undoubtedly regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the country this year and would be a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if he declares. Instead, he opted to stay at Oregon State for one more year and will now be viewed as a possible top-10 pick in next year’s draft and one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Although Moore’s talent is top-notch, the consensus is that Moore needs more experience before making the jump to the NFL level. Moore, who has made just 20 starts, will gain valuable experience in what is expected to be a special year in Eugene this coming year.

QB Akili Smith Jr.

Career Statistics: without any

Akili Smith Jr. didn’t see the field in Eugene as a true freshman, but he does have an interesting upside with tremendous size and some ideal quarterback tools, like a strong arm and the ability to keep plays alive. Smith Jr. has a family legacy in Eugene, where his father, Akili Smith, is an Oregon State legend, but with the transfer portal moving this offseason, it may be more difficult for Smith Jr. to achieve those dreams in Eugene.

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QB Brock Thomas

Career Statistics: 9 games – 12-for-16, 130 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 scores

The surprise quarterback this season has been Brock Thomas, a former backup at Shelton High who served as a backup all year in the event Dante Moore was injured or had a blowout. He played well, made some nice passes and showed an understanding of Eugene’s system.

Players start

QB Austin Nowosad

Career Statistics: 7 games – 12-for-15, 99 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 points

After spending three seasons in Eugene, it’s no surprise that Nowosad entered the portal and was looking for a place to look at his final two years of eligibility. A former four-star recruit, Nowosad had the tools to make it to the Power 4 level, but he never got a chance at Oregon State, sitting behind Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore.

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QB Luke Moga

Career Statistics: 3 games – 3-for-5, 58 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 points

Moga was an intriguing prospect for the Ducks with his elite speed and mobility, but he suffered a similar fate to Nowosad, only to be overlooked by numerous starters ahead of him on the depth chart. It will be interesting to see how he fares as he has unique tools and abilities at the quarterback position and could be a dynamic player at a slightly lower level.

QB Bryson Beaver(recruit)

Recruitment ranking: Four-star, No. 174 player, No. 12 QB

Bryson Beaver originally came to Eugene as a fast-rising quarterback prospect, and he made waves on the training camp circuit last summer and soared on the recruiting committee. He has a dynamic arm and size for a quarterback, but opted to enter the transfer portal after the announcement of Moore’s return and the addition of Dylan Raiola.

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Upcoming players

QB Dylan Raiola (transfer)

Career statistics: 22 games – 456 points, 4,819 yards, 13 TDs, 17 INTs on 660 throws

After two years of playing an average quarterback at Nebraska, Raiola made the mature decision to come to Oregon and sit out a year, choosing to develop and rehab from a broken fibula rather than seek out a lower-level program to start in 2026. With that in mind, the former five-star quarterback is expected to be the Ducks’ starter in 2027, giving Oregon an elite succession plan for Moore, much like Moore was for Dillon Gabriel.

Transfer portal requirements

With Dante Moore back, the Ducks no longer need a portal at quarterback. They got Raiola, who will take over as Moore’s successor in 2027, and should have them ready at the position for at least the next few years.

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Overall position outlook

As is usually the case, the Oregon Ducks have a good quarterback prospect. They project to have one of the best pass rushers in the country this year and then have another elite player waiting in the wings. This covers the years 2026 and 2027. Going forward, the likes of Akili Smith Jr. and incoming freshman Bryson Beaver will also be in the mix.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Previewing the Oregon Ducks QB position ahead of the 2026 offseason