Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is suddenly at the forefront of the Heisman Trophy conversation, and his performance at Penn State showed why.
In front of 112,000 fans dressed in white, Moore led the Ducks to a 30-24 double-overtime victory that highlighted both his composure and Oregon’s overall strength.
His effort did more than push the Ducks to 5-0. It cemented him as the current favorite for college football’s most prestigious award.
Moore’s poise fuels Oregon’s Heisman momentum
Moore’s stat line told part of the story. He completed 29 of 39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding 35 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Each throw carried weight as Oregon converted seven fourth downs, including key moments when the Ducks trailed 24-17 in the first overtime. Moore is now leading in latest Heisman power rankings after week 5.
Heisman Power Rankings Following Week 5 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dhfXE8EZQX
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) September 29, 2025
Moore showed how far he has come from a rocky freshman season at UCLA, demonstrating control against one of the toughest atmospheres in the sport.
His head coach, Dan Lanning, was clear about the impact.
“I think we have the best quarterback in college football,” Dan Lanning said. “Anybody watch that game? That guy’s composure, his poise… tells you a little bit about that guy.”
Lanning also credited the Ducks’ balance on both sides of the ball and their ability to neutralize what is usually a daunting home-field advantage.
“This is a huge one for our entire team, right? Because that crowd’s probably worth seven points, right? And they really weren’t tonight.”
With Oregon improving to 2-0 in Big Ten play and Penn State falling to 3-1, Moore’s Heisman odds jumped from +1300 to +750. His season totals now stand at 100 completions on 134 attempts for 1,210 yards, 14 touchdowns and just one interception.
After toppling Penn State in Happy Valley, it is no surprise his name leads the Heisman race heading into Oregon’s bye week.