Wednesday War Room: 2026 QB Depth Chart Preview

 

Over the next several weeks, Duck Sports Central will roll out a comprehensive preview of the Oregon Ducks’ 2026 football roster by position, beginning today with the most consequential spot on the field: quarterback. With spring practice approaching and a season that opens against Boise State in early September, even as the calendar still reads mid-February, expectations remain high in Eugene following a deep College Football Playoff run. Oregon returns its 2025 starter and adds experienced depth behind him, forming a quarterback room that blends proven production with long-term planning as the Ducks prepare for another run in the Big Ten.

Projected Depth Chart

1. Dante Moore — RS Junior
2. Dylan Raiola — Junior
3. Brock Thomas — RS Sophomore
4. Akili Smith Jr. — Freshman

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Dante Moore: The Decision That Stabilized the Season

EUGENE, Ore. — When Dante Moore announced he would return for the 2026 season, it altered the trajectory of Oregon’s offseason in a matter of hours.

Moore was widely viewed as a potential top-three selection in the 2026 NFL Draft after completing 71.8% of his passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025. His 90.2 PFF passing grade and command of the offense fueled expectations that his time in Eugene had run its course.

Instead, Moore chose continuity.

His path to this point has not been linear. After beginning his career at UCLA Bruins football, Moore endured a turbulent freshman season marked by heavy pressure and inconsistent protection. The raw talent was evident, but the structure around him was not. A transfer to Oregon and a redshirt year allowed him to recalibrate his mechanics, footwork and decision-making before taking over the starting role in 2025.

Last season, Moore operated with a calm that was absent earlier in his career. His release neutralized pressure, his pre-snap processing improved, and he consistently attacked the intermediate and vertical levels of the field with timing and touch. Oregon’s offense did not need him to be a runner. It needed him to distribute accurately, diagnose coverage and avoid negative plays. He did that.

Moore remains a traditional dropback passer. He does not threaten defenses as a designed runner, and sacks can mount when protection breaks down. But within structure, he is one of the most efficient passers in college football. Oregon enters 2026 knowing exactly what it has at the position — and building around it.

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Dylan Raiola: Experience Without Urgency

Behind Moore sits one of the more intriguing depth pieces in the country.

Dylan Raiola arrived from Nebraska Cornhuskers football with two seasons of starting experience and 4,819 career passing yards. As a freshman, he led all FBS freshmen in passing yardage. As a sophomore, he completed 72.4% of his passes before a broken fibula ended his season.

Raiola could have transferred to a program offering immediate control of the offense. Instead, he chose Oregon with the understanding that Moore’s return meant 2026 would likely be developmental.

The decision reflects long-term planning rather than short-term opportunity. Raiola has shown accuracy on layered throws over the middle and enough mobility to extend plays outside the pocket. At Nebraska, he absorbed 54 career sacks behind inconsistent line play. In Eugene, he steps into a more stable system and a year to refine footwork and pocket discipline without the weekly pressure of being the primary answer.

If Moore were unavailable, Oregon would not be turning to an untested quarterback. Raiola has navigated conference play and high-leverage situations. More importantly, he positions the Ducks with a seamless succession plan for 2027 and beyond.

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Brock Thomas: The Trusted Option

Every quarterback room requires a player who understands the offense, accepts the role and can execute without disruption.

For Oregon, that player is Brock Thomas.

Thomas does not carry the recruiting pedigree of Moore or Raiola, but his value lies in reliability. When called upon last season — including a composed performance against Wisconsin — he demonstrated command of the system and situational awareness.

In a season where development timelines could matter, Thomas provides flexibility. If the staff chooses to protect Raiola’s eligibility or if injuries create temporary need, Oregon can turn to Thomas without fundamentally altering the offensive structure.

Depth at quarterback is rarely about flash. It is about trust. Thomas supplies it.

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Akili Smith Jr.: The Developmental Horizon

Akili Smith Jr. represents the longer view of the position.

At 6-foot-5 with a live arm and natural deep-ball touch, Smith arrives with high-upside traits. His high school production included back-to-back 2,400-yard seasons and consistent downfield accuracy. Evaluators point to his ability to vary arm speed, throw with touch and maintain balance outside the pocket.

He remains a developmental prospect. Mechanics, timing and consistency will require repetition and system immersion. The expectation is not immediate contribution but incremental growth. Spring practice will provide foundational reps, but Smith’s trajectory is measured in seasons, not weeks.

Within the room, he is the future-facing investment.

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The Structure of the Room

Oregon’s 2026 quarterback unit is defined by stability and clarity. Moore anchors the present. Raiola prepares for the next phase. Thomas provides operational insurance. Smith develops behind them.

This is not a quarterback room built around improvisational rushing or schematic quarterback runs. It is structured around processing, timing and accuracy. That identity places responsibility on protection and offensive line cohesion. When the pocket is secure, Moore’s efficiency and decision-making elevate the offense. When pressure leaks through, the margin narrows.

Entering 2026, Oregon is not navigating uncertainty at quarterback. It is managing expectation.

In an era defined by transfer volatility and annual resets, the Ducks instead carry continuity — and a depth chart that reflects planning rather than reaction.