It was one of the biggest revelations of the young college football season.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who bypassed being a surefire top NFL draft pick to return to the Ducks, was tipping plays. Defenses could reportedly tell whether Oregon was running or passing based on how Moore aligned himself before the snap, a tell Oklahoma State exploited in its stunning Week 2 upset.
Once the Cowboys exposed the tendency, it spread quickly. Social media clips dissected Moore's pre-snap habits, highlighting a flaw few would expect from a quarterback talented enough to already be on an NFL roster.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning acknowledged
the issue after the loss, saying the Ducks needed to do a better job disguising their intentions.
"I haven't been on it (social media) much, but people have been telling me about it,” Moore said on Sept. 15, three days after the loss. “I mean, it just shows me as a player that I have things that I need to fix.”
Even amid the scrutiny, Moore found a silver lining.
"I'm glad they brought it up," he said, knowing it was something that could be corrected.
Now, he's hoping identifying the problem is the first step toward getting his season back on track.
For all the hype surrounding Moore, from Heisman Trophy contender to future first-round draft pick to the quarterback many believe gives Oregon its best chance to win a long-awaited national championship, he hasn't consistently delivered when the spotlight has burned brightest.
He'll need to change that Saturday when No. 16 Oregon travels to face longtime West Coast rival USC in a game that could define the Ducks' season.
The broader body of work explains why expectations remain sky-high. In 2025, Moore threw for 3,565 yards, completed 71.8% of his passes and accounted for 30 touchdowns, numbers that showcased the arm talent and poise NFL scouts covet.
But when the stakes have risen, Moore's play has often dipped.
In two losses to Indiana last season, he struggled with decision-making and appeared rattled by a defense that consistently pressured him. Oregon advanced past Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, but the Ducks' defense carried the load in a 23-0 shutout while Moore turned in an unremarkable performance.
Then came the stunning Week 2 loss to Oklahoma State, which punctured much of the offseason buzz surrounding his return. Moore completed just 14 of 29 passes for 191 yards, good for a 48.3% completion rate, his lowest mark since his difficult freshman season at UCLA.
Still, there was one game last season when Moore looked every bit like the quarterback Oregon envisioned.
It just happened to come against the team standing across from him this week.
Defense has long been a headache for USC coach Lincoln Riley. The arrival of veteran coordinator Gary Patterson was supposed to transform that side of the ball, and through the first few weeks, it appeared the Trojans had made progress. But cracks resurfaced during a closer-than-expected seven-point win over winless Rutgers, a reminder of the defensive issues that have plagued USC throughout Riley's tenure.
If Rutgers could move the ball effectively, Oregon should believe it can do the same.
Whether that happens may ultimately depend on Moore.
A big performance would restore confidence in Oregon's championship aspirations and reinsert Moore near the top of NFL mock drafts. Another disappointing outing, however, could leave the Ducks staring at a 2-2 start and watching their title hopes begin to unravel before October.
After Oregon took out its frustrations on Portland State in an 84-0 rout, Moore joked he had fixed the pre-snap foot alignment that revealed whether Oregon was running or passing.
“They can't call about that no more," he said.
But Portland State isn't USC.
Now comes the real test: a road environment under the lights at a sold-out Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the 12th-ranked Trojans hoping to strengthen their own playoff résumé at Oregon's expense.
Moore insists the Oklahoma State loss changed more than just his footwork.
He said it forced him to reevaluate his leadership. While he believed he was doing enough to guide the team, the defeat showed him there was another level he needed to reach.
"That was a game and that was a moment that helped mold us," he said. "I learned from that, and I'm glad it happened. It's a lesson for me to learn and been carrying ever since."
The lesson is learned. The excuses are gone.
Now comes the moment Moore has spent his career preparing for. If Oregon is going to remain in the championship conversation, its star quarterback has to look the part.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dante Moore was exposed. Now Oregon's season may depend on his response
