
Big Ten coach has high expectations for Oregon Football QB Dante Moore in 2025
Big Ten coach has high expectations for Oregon Football QB Dante Moore in 2025
The Oregon Ducks will look quite different in 2025 than they did a year ago, and while fans will have many questions about where the talent comes from, and which players will end up producing the most, there is little concern about the amount of talent currently in Eugene.
One of the players who many expect to step up in a major way this year is redshirt sophomore quarterback Dante Moore, a former 5-star recruit who sat behind Dillon Gabriel a year ago and learned the Ducks' system after transferring in from the UCLA Bruins.
While some from the outside may see Moore as your "run-in-the-mill" transfer QB, he is much more than that. Because of his year studying the offense and picking it up behind a veteran like Dillon Gabriel, Moore has a leg up coming into 2025.
In an interview with Athlon Sports Magazine, an anonymous Big Ten coach echoed that sentiment, having this to say about Moore and his early expectations in Eugene.
'They're pretty hyped on the quarterback [Dante Moore], who they've had in the system for a season already, which is a huge advantage," the coach said. "This isn't modifying your book for a guy you get out of the portal; it's a talented, developed player who already knows your system. I think that will show early on this season.'
The Ducks will have several chances in September to allow Moore to ease his way into the offense with a relatively light early-season schedule. Oregon kicks off things against Montana State, followed by games against Oklahoma State, Oregon State, and Northwestern. After that, the biggest regular-season game of the year comes on September 27, when the Ducks travel to Happy Valley to face the Penn State Nittany Lions, who many have ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation going into the new year.
If Moore is as good as expected, then this will be an incredibly entertaining rematch of the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game. After the light early load, this game will give everyone a great idea of just how good No. 5 can be for the Ducks.
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Predicting Postseason All-Big Ten Defense
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Zane Durant, Penn State In a much more expanded role on the interior, look for Zane Durant to truly flourish, especially in terms of stopping the run. An All-Big Ten honorable mention last year, look for him to finally get his flowers. With 42 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks and a pass breakup, his elite athleticism was on display for all to see. Now it feels like time for him to take that next step. Look for him to mightily benefit from Dani Dennis-Sutton's abilities on the edge to be able to create pressure himself. Rayshaun Benny, Michigan Benny has always been a player who has had to wait his turn. Now that he will be a firmly cemented starter along the Wolverines' front seven, look for him to make the most of it. While only appearing in 11 games, two of them starts, Benny still managed 29.5 tackles, 4 QB hurries and two pass breakups. Now without stars surrounding such as Mason Graham, Benny's stat line is sure to explode in his sixth year with the program. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State Dennis-Sutton's inclusion in this team should be a no-brainer. After all, the hardest part of his Penn State career is officially over. Without Abdul Carter on the other side of him, all the stats and accolades now could be his. Even with Abdul Carter opposite him, Dennis-Sutton still wreaked havoc. He still had 42 tackles and 8.5 sacks, more than enough for Penn State fans to believe that he can continue to carry the torch for one of the country's most fearsome college defenses. Linebackers Gabe Jacas, Illinois One of the most underrated players on this squad, Jacas is the figurehead of everything the Illini do defensively. He is an athletic freak with the ability to move sideline-to-sideline and in his final year with Illinois, will catch many an NFL scout's eye. His 74 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks are impressive for an edge, let alone an outside linebacker. Last year, they were enough for third team honors. This year, it would be foolish if anything close to those same numbers doesn't earn him a first team spot. Aiden Fisher, Indiana Another underrated playmaker, look for Fisher to continue to do a little bit of everything for the Hoosiers. The first ever Indiana linebacker to earn first-team All-America honors, Fisher's abilities will continue to earn him all the praise he garners. His 118 tackles last season already placed him No. 16 on the single season chart for Indiana, and this year could be his chance to improve upon that as the Hoosiers defense could be frisky and physical yet again. Dominic Deluca, Penn State Dominic Deluca could be said to be the ultimate glue guys for the Nittany Lions. Without him anchoring the back end of the front seven, the Penn State linebackers may not be as cohesive as they would be with him. His two interceptions in their CFP first round game against SMU highlighted his talents and positional versatility for a Penn State squad looking for an emotional leader. While all the big guns could be in the front four, it's players like Deluca who ensure the solidity and well-rounded nature of the defense at large. Cornerbacks AJ Harris, Penn State AJ Harris may reap a lot of the benefits for what his front seven will be able to do this year. If that potent front four do their job well, look for Harris' explosiveness and awareness to generate a lot of turnovers for the Nittany Lions. While only having one interception last year, his five pass breakups prove that more opportunities will come his way this year, especially with the talent surrounding him. His longevity also stands out, playing in all 16 games, something that can go unappreciated for a team of Penn State's depth. D'angelo Ponds, Indiana Several have made the case that with just one season of sample size, D'angelo Ponds is already the best cornerback in the conference. Entering his junior season, he still has room to grow even better. His two-interception game against Washington certainly put him on the map and his nine pass breakups stood out to many. Look for his star to continue to ascend in what could be his final season as a Hoosier. Safeties Caleb Downs, Ohio State If it weren't for all the offensive talent that the Buckeyes had, Caleb Downs would certainly be the headliner in Columbus this year. Viewed as the best defensive player in the country by many, Downs could look to make history as only the second ever DB to win the Heisman. Third on the team last year in tackles with 82 and with eight pass breakups and two interceptions, both in the CFP, Downs has already made an immediate impact on the Buckeyes. The sky's truly the limit for this former Alabama transfer. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon In two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers, Thieneman was named to a second-team and third-team All-American, a Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week 5 times, and the 247Sports True Freshman of the Year. To top it all off last year, he led all Big Ten DBs with 104 tackles. Now imagine what he can do for an Oregon Ducks program looking to make a major breakthrough as CFP contenders. If the Purdue version of Thieneman shows up for the Ducks, chances are they can maintain their contender status for several more years in Eugene.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Ranking all 18 Big Ten Mascots
The Big Ten conference has some of the most aesthetiycally intriguing and iconic mascots. Whether it be the standard-bearing Oregon Duck, which somehow interprets the concept perfect, or USC, whose human and costume mascots add a unique flair to their program, each program has a distinct hype man backing them throughout their as some fanbases may come to find, none at all. 18. Indiana Hoosiers One of two Big Ten schools without a mascot, there's a lot going against Indiana at the bottom. The first reason being that traditionally, Indian has not been a powerhouse Big Ten school for quite some time despite having some success on the gridiron. Add in the fact the the Hoosiers is very much tailored to the state's rich basketball history and that may be the reason why Indiana can't find a mascot to satisfy all fronts. 17. Michigan Wolverines The other school surprisingly without a mascot, at the very least, Michigan has slightly more aura surrounding its program than the Hoosiers. Their rich footballing history combined with their classic maize and blue color scheme give them the edge in the mascotless race. 16. Iowa Hawkeyes Mascot Name: Harry the Hawk The first school with a mascot on this list, Harry the Hawk does not quite fit the intimidating nature of the team's uniforms. The beak on the head is too unwieldy and unappealing and counteracts the aesthetic of adding a uniform. It would be much higher if they figured out a more presentable beak. 15. Purdue Boilermakers Mascot Name: Purdue Pete The low ranking for Purdue Pete stems from the head. It's highly offputting and eliminates all of the visually appealing things going on with the rest of the outfit, including the camo pants and the hard hat. Plus, it doesn't really fit the model of what a "Boilermaker" could potentially be. 14. Illinois Fighting Illini Mascot Name: Kingfisher Surprisingly, a school with the nickname "Fighting Illini" does in fact have a mascot. 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It's a good-looking bear at best, but the color clash between the blue and gold jersey and the brown fur makes it look a bit Build-a-Bearish at worst. Not a good look for a blueblood college sports program. 11. Northwestern Wildcats Mascot Name: Willie the Wildcat Willie The Wildcat has an underrated feel to him. Whether it be the way the name rolls off the tongue or because off the interesting color choice of his fur, Willie might not gets the flowers he deserves for simply fitting the part of what a classic mascot should be. Cool name? Check. Cool design? Check. Most importantly, do you fit the school nickname? Check. Willie the Wildcat is about as solid as you can get for a mascot in the conference. 10. Washington Huskies Mascot Name: Harry the Huskie With really nothing much separating both Willie and Harry either aesthetically or stylistically, at least the Washington mascot can hang its hat on being the best ranked mascot named Harry in the conference. 9. Minnesota Golden Gophers Mascot Name: Goldy Gopher With an off-putting nickname such as the Golden Gophers, it must have been hard to come up with a cool concept for Minnesota. However, they somehow pulled it off with Goldy. Her two front teeth are a major selling point and add to the goofiness of the costume. However, a more intimidating look could have seen Goldy higher on this list. However, kudos to Minnesota for trying to get funky with the idea of a gopher. 8. Penn State Nittany Lions Mascot Name: Nittany Lions Unfortunately, bias is a large aspect as to why Penn State's Nittany Lions is this high. Despite the cool nickname and the somewhat decent looking lion costume, the teeth are too creepy and the fur and blue and white color scheme don't quite fit together. However, you can't knock the school you write about too hard and it isn't all that bad when you combine it with the school's crazy atmospheres at football and basketball games. 7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Mascot Name: Sir Henry the Scarlet Knight It's sometimes hard to pull off a knight mascot considering how bold you might have to go, but Sir Henry is executed to near perfection. He manages to pull off the scarlet and white color scheme better than the teams that wear them. The only points that I would take off are for the disproportionate head. It's a little bit too goofy to fit the whole knight image. 6. USC Trojans Mascot Name: Tommy Trojan It's one thing to have one cool mascot. Having two on the other hand, is quite the feat to pull off. USC do it in style, with the human Trojan riding in on a horse to hype up the crowd and one of the best looking "royal" mascots of the Big Ten, Tommy Trojan, to back it all up. Also, a more intimidating aesthetic is thus created, putting them a bit higher on the list than Sir Henry. 5. Ohio State Buckeyes Mascot Name: Brutus the Buckeye Having the coolest name in the conference, Brutus checks off a lot of boxes: a cool looking head, great design, the scarlet and grey striped shirt, and somehow, the ability to represent a kooky nickname that otherwise would not make sense in the slightest. For that, Brutus just about breaks into the top 5. 4. Nebraska Cornhuskers Mascot Name: Herbie Husker A mascot finally not named Harry but still begins with the letter H, Herbie is forgiven for not exactly being a Cornhusker. Perhaps the most intimidating of the human mascots in the Big Ten, Herbie is the closest thing to a everyman mascot in the conference. Plus the overalls and boots totally add to the Midwestern vibe as well the classic red cowboy hat. 3. Wisconsin Badgers Mascot Name: Bucky Badger Bucky Badger might just be one of the most cerebral mascots of the Big Ten. Somehow the misshapen head works and combines really nicely with the red and white pinstriped shirt. He is a classic in the conference and won't soon be forgotten in the annals of college football history. 2. Oregon Ducks Mascot Name: The Oregon Duck The Oregon Duck could very well make the case for the No. 1 spot on this list. To make a duck mascot more iconic than Aflac's in college sports is difficult and yet Oregon have cracked the code. Equal parts goofy and scary, it shouldn't work as well as it does. But if the Ducks continue to rise in the college sports landscape, the Duck will go down in history as one of the most unusually fascinating mascots of all time. 1. Michigan State Spartans Mascot Name: Sparty Nothing quite beats tradition in college sports, and Sparty the Spartan is steeped in it. Roaming the sidelines since 1955, Sparty represents the tradition of the Big Ten unlike any other program in college sports. He's more than a mascot at some times, he's an institution that is instantly recognizable to those who love college sports. Quite simply a perfect mascot to round off this list.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
USC Watches Big Ten Rival Add 4-Star Power Back
USC Watches Big Ten Rival Add 4-Star Power Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. USC continues to hold the top spot in the national recruiting rankings. One Big Ten rival, however, added a four-star power back who was on the Trojans' radar early on the trail. Advertisement Amari Latimer chose Wisconsin in shutting down his college football recruiting process Saturday. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Latimer held a litany of scholarship offers. Including the Trojans, who offered back on Feb. 6. Ironically, Latimer's offer came before USC skyrocketed to the top of the rankings with an aggressive February blitz. The native of Tyrone, Georgia pulled in approximately 50 scholarship offers. The Sandy Creek High star reeled in one other Californian offer, but from Atlantic Coast Conference representative Cal. So how did Wisconsin win over the power back compared to USC, Cal, Big Ten champion Oregon and the long list of power conference suitors for him? His father explained it to Evan Flood of 247Sports. Sep 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans running back Woody Marks (4) runs the ball against Utah State Aggies linebacker Clyde Washington (42) during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Jonathan Hui-Imagn ImagesJonathan Hui-Imagn Images "Their relationship is one that Amari sees as almost like a big brother, an authoritative type big brother," said Giimere Sr. "Amari values their conversations." Advertisement He's verbal commit No. 15 for Luke Fickell and the Badgers coaching staff. The Badgers even offered him before USC and Lincoln Riley made their pursuit -- as Wisconsin got on Latimer during the summer of 2023. Latimer became drawn to the pipeline of backs who have strolled through Madison. Names like Jonathan Taylor and Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne come to mind. He's also going to join his older brother Geimere Latimer on the roster, as the cornerback came via the transfer portal. But now USC has a future 220-pound locomotive to game plan for in Big Ten play. The Trojans visit Camp Randall in the 2026 season. Related: USC's New College Football Playoff Odds Revealed This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.