Dante Moore sets Oregon record, Ducks dominate Minnesota and secure No. 8 ranking
Dante Moore completed 27 of 30 passes for a school record 90 percent completion rate as the No. 8 Oregon Ducks rolled to a 42 to 13 victory over Minnesota on Friday night. The win pushed Oregon to 9 and 1, tightened its place in the College Football Playoff conversation, and helped bring ESPN College GameDay back to Eugene for the upcoming USC matchup.
The Oregon Ducks sent a statement through a comprehensive performance against Minnesota on November 17, closing the game 42 to 13 and moving to 9 and 1 on the season. Quarterback Dante Moore set an Oregon single game completion percentage record by going 27 of 30, surpassing Marcus Mariota's mark from 2012, while Oregon's offense and defense controlled the tempo from the first drive.
Moore did his record work while wearing a protective visor after suffering a broken nose in the previous month. He acknowledged the adjustment required by the new gear, saying, "It feels great to have that. It’s a true blessing for sure. Without my teammates, I wouldn’t have gotten it done." He also described the visual adjustment, saying, "Your vision is a little bit different. A lot of times I was thinking, like, for example with Kenyon (Sadiq), that he was closer than he was, so I overthrew him a little bit. It just messes up the vision a little bit, but I’ve been wearing it all week and getting comfortable with it. The guys love it, the teammates love it, so it feels great to be out there on the field protecting my nose."
The Ducks' offensive line continued a recent run of strong protection, allowing only one sack against a Minnesota unit that entered the night ranked fourth nationally with 3.56 sacks per game. The protection helped Moore spread the ball widely, as he completed passes to 10 different receivers and finished with at least two receptions to each target. Moore credited his teammates for the production, saying, "I’ve just got to give a shoutout to the 10 other players with me on the field. With them making the spectacular catches, the front five giving me time in the pocket, the running backs opening the run game, overall, I couldn’t do it without them."
Key plays included a 13 yard touchdown by redshirt freshman Jeremiah McClellan, who secured a toe tap inbounds on a 75 yard drive that pushed Oregon's lead to 35 to 13. Running back Noah Whittington produced a 40 yard dash that resulted in an emotional review at the goal line, with the touchdown ultimately upheld. Head coach Dan Lanning emphasized the need for better ball security following the play.
The victory also carries broader significance for Eugene. ESPN College GameDay announced it will return to the city for Oregon's upcoming matchup with USC, underscoring the national attention the Ducks' season continues to draw. For local fans, the result cements momentum heading into a marquee conference game and raises stakes for ticket demand, local business activity, and community engagement around championship aspirations.
Local reporting on the game, quotes, and analysis were provided by Tyson Alger of Lookout Eugene Springfield.
