Nearly two years after a low-stakes matchup as struggling freshmen, quarterbacks Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza are set to face off again, this time under far different circumstances. Their first encounter was a forgettable regular-season finale between middling UCLA and Cal teams, where both players threw two interceptions in a 33-7 Cal victory that underscored their inexperience.
Today, Moore leads an undefeated, top-10 Oregon, while Mendoza helms an equally undefeated and top-ranked Indiana. Both quarterbacks have guided their teams toward a potential College Football Playoff berth and have unexpectedly surged into the top tier of NFL draft conversations.
Mendoza, a former three-star recruit from Miami with limited offers from programs like FIU, Yale, and Penn, has seen his stock skyrocket. “That’s why Mendoza, to me, has gained the most steam,” one NFL personnel executive noted, with another adding that the possibility of him being the No. 1 pick is “not off the table.”
After a solid sophomore season at Cal where he threw for 3,004 yards, Mendoza transferred to Indiana seeking a system better suited for the next level, following a stint under his third offensive coordinator in as many years. The move has paid off. Through five games, he has matched last season’s 16 touchdown passes against only one interception, completing 73% of his passes for 1,208 yards. “I just look back at some of my clips from even fall camp last year at Cal to this year and I’m just a completely different quarterback,” Mendoza said.
Moore, a former five-star prospect, has followed a different but equally effective path. His freshman season at UCLA was a mix of promise and inconsistency, where he won, lost, and regained the starting job. After coach Chip Kelly’s departure, Moore transferred to Oregon—a program he had previously committed to—and spent a year on the bench watching Dillon Gabriel excel in offensive coordinator Will Stein’s system.
That year of development, combined with offseason work alongside NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, has been transformative. Moore has been stellar this season, throwing for 1,210 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just one interception, with a 74.6% completion rate. Oregon coach Dan Lanning declared, “I think we got the best quarterback in college football,” after a pivotal overtime win at Penn State.
Statistically, both quarterbacks are among the nation’s elite. Mendoza and Moore rank third and fourth, respectively, in EPA per dropback and boast two of the best touchdown-to-interception ratios in the country. Their offenses are both ranked in the top 10 in SP+.
Their rapid ascent has captured the attention of NFL talent evaluators, particularly in a quarterback draft class perceived as lacking top-heavy talent. While scouts praise Mendoza’s arm strength and prototypical size, one executive noted he sometimes “panics, and his mechanics go away” when his first read is covered. Another executive places Moore inside his top three quarterback prospects.
Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry praised Mendoza’s vision and progressions, saying, “I believe he is going to play on Sunday.” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has also expressed confidence in his quarterback, who sought the transfer not only for NFL preparation but for a chance to win. “At Cal, I had six wins both years,” Mendoza said. “I really wanted at least one double-digit-win season.”
Saturday’s game in Eugene will serve as a major showcase, with 16 NFL scouts scheduled to be in attendance. While not a final referendum on their pro prospects, the highly anticipated rematch will place a bright spotlight on two of college football’s most surprising success stories.
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