Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks at a press convention forward of an Orange Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal recreation towards Texas Tech, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Dania Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The first assembly between Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore wasn’t fairly.
It was two years in the past, earlier than the Pac-12’s demise. Mendoza was quarterback at California, whereas Moore began for UCLA in the ultimate recreation of the common season.
Cal went on to win 33-7. Mendoza, who began the season as Cal’s third-string QB, threw for a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions. Moore was additionally picked off twice. So a lot has modified since then.
Moore transferred to Oregon, the place he waited behind starter Dillon Gabriel final season. Mendoza spent one extra 12 months with Cal, which had jumped to the ACC amid convention realignment, earlier than touchdown at Indiana.
With that 12 months of progress underneath their belts, each quarterbacks regarded significantly extra polished once they met once more in October. Mendoza’s Indiana got here out on high 30-20 in Eugene after he threw for 215 yards and a fourth-quarter landing that put the Hoosiers in entrance for good.
Moore threw for 186 yards and a TD, however was picked off twice and in addition sacked six instances.
That first assembly in Eugene propelled undefeated Indiana up the rankings and smack into the College Football Playoff dialog. The Hoosiers didn’t drop a recreation all season and beat Ohio State for the Big Ten title to seize a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Mendoza, after all, went on to win the Heisman Trophy. He has thrown for 3,172 yards and 36 touchdowns, with simply six interceptions. He’s additionally rushed for 256 yards and 6 scores.
“To me that’s the winning edge. I mean, when you look at a quarterback, obviously he’s gotta have throwing ability and be able to process, but the ability to extend plays, whether it’s with his legs or once he’s out of the pocket with his arm, his eyes down field, I mean, that’s the key,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti stated. “A guy that cannot extend plays, you really become vulnerable. And Fernando’s ability to make plays with his legs, boy, I can’t even count the number of times in big games this year where his legs have come through and extended drives.”
Mendoza is of course getting buzz as a high choose in the NFL draft. Indiana has already ready for his departure, touchdown heralded TCU quarterback Josh Hoover out of the switch portal. Plus, it nonetheless has Mendoza’s youthful brother, Alberto, on the roster.
Moore has not introduced his intentions, but additionally is in the combination to be the No. 1 choose — if he declares for the draft. Sophomore Brock Thomas emerged as Moore’s backup throughout the season and made appearances in six video games, throwing for 130 yards and a landing. Quarterback Austin Novosad, who performed briefly in the opener, has reportedly entered the switch portal.
A sophomore after redshirting final season, Moore has thrown for 3,280 yards with 28 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He has additionally run for 2 TDs.
This week forward of the Peach Bowl, Moore stated he made that first assembly with Indiana this season larger than it was.
“I was too fast on my progressions. There were some times where there was an open guy, and you can say I was kind of seeing ghosts out there. More of just trying for get through my progressions too fast,” Moore stated. “And another thing too is when I climbed to the pocket, I was trying to rush and get out. And there were some times where I could climb into the pocket, and there was no need for me to move. So those are probably the two biggest things, just gotta learn from there.”
He did be taught from there. In the video games for the reason that loss to Indiana, Moore has thrown for 1,885 yards with 13 touchdowns, finishing 73.6% with six interceptions. Both of his speeding touchdowns have come following the loss, the one blemish on Oregon’s season.
“You gotta remember when we played earlier in the season, Dante hadn’t played a ton of games,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning stated. “As you play an entire season, you get exposed to a lot of different looks, and you learn from those moments, and Dante has certainly learned from a lot of those moments what he’s seen. He’s been obviously a great player for us and done an unbelievable job, but he’s not the same player as he was earlier this year.”