Wednesday War Room: Pressure is a privilege

 

As Oregon kicks off fall camp in Dan Lanning’s fourth season, the Ducks begin their Big Ten title defense with one of the nation’s most intriguing quarterback battles. With Dillon Gabriel off to the NFL, the competition between former five-star Dante Moore and third-year Duck Austin Novosad takes center stage.

Both quarterbacks have taken drastically different paths to this moment—Moore returning to Oregon after a brief stint at UCLA and Novosad developing behind Bo Nix and Gabriel the past two seasons—but their shared focus is on growth, leadership, and elevating the program.

“There’s an excitement just because it’s a new group,” Lanning said. “You want to see what they embrace, what they want to tackle… I’m just ready to attack and figure out what we’re really great at, what we’ve got to improve at. That’s the fun part for me: what problems do we get to solve?”

For Moore, this fall marks both a return and a reset. After initially committing to Oregon as a high school recruit before flipping to UCLA, Moore came back to Eugene through the transfer portal and now enters camp looking to lead a team with major expectations.

“Like coach Lanning always says, ‘pressure is a privilege,’” Moore said. “I feel like this whole offense is talented and we're ready to compete. A lot of us have chips on our shoulders. I know damn well that I'm hungry.”

Moore’s offseason was filled with intentional preparation—physical, mental, and relational. He says he hit a personal speed goal, reaching 21.5 mph in summer training: “It made me happy. I almost cried.”

More importantly, Moore has embraced the leadership mantle. At Oregon’s offseason leadership retreat, he was one of the players asked to speak up.

“I was able to be there last year and learn, but this year it was good to hear everybody’s voice,” he said. “What I took from it was understanding that when you're winning, the team is going to look to you—and when you're losing, the team is going to look to you. Me finding better ways to help lead the team.”

Moore has leaned into building chemistry with teammates as well. “I took the O-line bowling… we hang out at each other’s houses. It’s those moments outside the facility that help you trust each other inside the facility.”

He also emphasized the growth of freshman receiver Dakorien Moore: “He’s asking me questions now and making sure I know my stuff too… He’s learning and he’s very competitive.”

If Moore brings the five-star pedigree, Novosad brings the institutional knowledge. Entering his third season in Eugene and third year under offensive coordinator Will Stein, Novosad knows the system as well as anyone in the building.

“I feel lucky,” Novosad said. “In this day and age, a lot of guys have coordinator changes or head coaching changes. Having the same guy for these three years, we’ve been able to add new things and tweak things to his liking. We’re feeling really confident coming into this year.”

Novosad isn’t rattled by the quarterback competition—he welcomes it.

“It’s just competing every day. We’re always trying to help each other out, learn different things from each other, because everyone brings something different to the table,” he said. “Coach Lanning says just one day at a time—get that 1% better.”

Novosad has also leaned into leadership during summer player-led workouts. “We were out there getting route details with the receivers, protections right with the O-line. Cleaning up little things player-to-player. It’s been a good process.”

Asked where his confidence comes from, Novosad pointed to preparation: “Spring and summer—being with those guys, cleaning up the little details—so that come fall camp, it’s plays we’ve already been through.”

While Lanning didn’t name a front-runner, he made it clear that both Moore and Novosad will have every opportunity to show they belong.

“There’s going to be some growing pains as we grow as a team,” Lanning said. “The key is you hope you can grow through wins and not through losses.”

He emphasized that the offensive identity won’t be dictated solely by the quarterback, but by a full evaluation of who elevates those around them.

“I love seeing different people out there with different groups,” Lanning said. “Who’s the difference maker in that 11 guys on the field? Who’s the guy that makes people around him better?”

That includes chemistry with a new-look receiver group impacted by the injury to Evan Stewart. Moore acknowledged the blow—“It hurts my soul understanding how E-Stew went down”—but was quick to express confidence in Oregon’s depth.

“We’ve got a lot of playmakers,” Moore said. “Everybody is hungry. It’s the University of Oregon—we have playmakers here.”

Lanning echoed that optimism: “There’s an opportunity now for other guys to step up and create a role for themselves. I have a lot of confidence in that room.”

Despite the stakes, the tone inside the quarterback room is collaborative.

“We’re always teaching each other and helping each other out,” Moore said. “Making sure we improve every day.”

Novosad agreed: “Helping the younger guys, being that leadership role to the young wideouts, young QBs. It’s part of what I bring to the table.”

Lanning, for his part, is focused on putting the quarterbacks—and the rest of the roster—in pressure-filled situations that simulate game environments.

“Our goal within fall camp is: how can we create the same anxiety you have on game day?” he said. “How can we build confidence in what guys do well? That’s part of our job as coaches.”

For Moore and Novosad, that journey officially begins now.

“I’m excited,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a long fall camp. But when it comes to the season, we’re going to be ready for sure.”