university of oregon ducks football

For the first time in years it looks as though Oregon Football will have a real duel for their starting quarterback in the fall.

With Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel both transferring to UO in recent seasons, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion who the starting signal caller would be. Now, in the midst of their departures, the Ducks will likely be down to their two top QB recruits in 2023.

That was the year five star Donte Moore from Michigan, who had committed to Oregon, flipped at the last minute to Chip Kelly and UCLA, and the Ducks filled that void with Texas four star recruit Austin Novosad.

Fast forward a season and Moore was returning to where he originally intended to be, although with the mindset that he would sit a year behind Gabriel and wait for his moment. Meanwhile, Novosad had already been waiting for a season and 2025 would mark his third for the Ducks.

Generally, by that point, one hopes to have earned their starting spot.

Which brings us to an interesting battle that will start now during Spring Ball and continue later during Fall Camp. Will it be the blue chipper who already has some experience (though not necessarily positive) starting elsewhere or the workhorse who’s never started but been with Oregon since the beginning?

The general consensus is that Moore will take over at the helm, as he simply seems to have more raw talent and a higher ceiling. But stranger things have happened.

We all remember 2016 when eventually a true Freshman took over for a Senior transfer and, well, ended up doing more than alright.

In 2008 after a fierce offseason battle the scenario was reversed as eventually a more experienced transfer took over for Oregon’s highly touted true sophomore who had just led Oregon to a blowout bowl win.

That ended up with Oregon winning the conference the next season.

Offensive Coordinator Will Stein is certainly cut from a different loaf in his QB style, a style that, perhaps, suits Novosad more so than the fundamental Moore.

The Spring Game is in a week and a half, and that will tell fans a lot.

But unless Oregon randomly adds someone more suited, it seems as though this will be quite the competition.