Oregon Ducks in 2025: Ducks usher in a new era of 'Ballers' at Quarterback
For the first time in years, the Ducks don't quite know what to expect under center.
With the days getting shorter, it’s time to kick off our preseason coverage of the Oregon Ducks 2025 college football season. We begin today by looking at the quarterbacks.
Dante Moore was walking into receiver Dakorien Moore’s apartment earlier this spring when the QB Room group chat lit up on his phone.
Redshirt freshman Ryder Hayes had the news: Dillon Gabriel had just been drafted. Oregon’s 2024 quarterback was selected in the third round by the Cleveland Browns after a spectacular collegiate career that saw Gabriel pass for 18,722 yards and 155 touchdowns — the last 3,857 and 30 of those coming in his one season with the Ducks where he finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
It was a proud moment for Moore, who transferred to Oregon in the same offseason as Gabriel and served as the team’s backup throughout a 13-1 season. A former 5-star who started five games as a true freshman at UCLA in 2023, Moore had places he could have played immediately outside of Westwood, but instead chose to compete with and learn from a player whose talent was validated with his April NFL selection.
“The adversity he's gone through playing for three different schools, people saying his height and that he wasn't a good player, but if you just look at the stats, they talk for themselves,” Moore said. “He's a winner and a great competitor. He pushed me a lot. I pushed him. I was born in East Cleveland and he'll be in Cleveland now. I feel like that's a good spot for him to be at to learn. Overall, he's a baller and he always told us, ‘Ballers ball, so go be a baller.’”
The Ducks have grown accustomed to those at quarterback throughout the Dan Lanning era, which is what makes the state of Oregon’s quarterback room in 2025 so intriguing.
First, the known: The Ducks have been exceptional at the position since 2022. Over the last three seasons, Oregon QBs have averaged 4,000 passing yards, 35 TDs and 6 INTS while finishing first (Bo Nix), first (Nix) and second (Gabriel) nationally in completion percentage. With their calm and veteran play at the position, Nix and Gabriel were the focal points of an Oregon program that went 35-6 in their three years to solidify the Ducks as one of college football’s powerhouses.
Yes, the prolific numbers Nix and Gabriel produced were aided by an offense that thrives on efficiency, with quick passes and screens accounting for a hefty portion of each’s completions. But these are also two quarterbacks who went to New York for the Heisman ceremony and are now on NFL rosters, with Nix being a finalist for the 2024 NFL Rookie of the Year award with the Denver Broncos.
Ballers, indeed. And a tough act to follow.
Here’s where the Ducks stand.