Just the right amount of motivation provided for Oregon and Dante Moore to prove the pundits wrong!

Oregon Ducks On SI

Big Ten Quarterbacks Shocking Rank: Michigan's Bryce Unde...

The quality of a program’s quarterback is key to on-field success. That’s certainly been the case for the Oregon Ducks, who have produced two Heisman Trophy fin

A humbled five star quarterback willfully sits a year to learn behind a Heisman finalist on an undefeated number one team. That doesn't happen often. I doubt Arch Manning is ranked the number 10 SEC QB even though the situations are similar. I predict this will be the best offense that Lanning has put on the field so far and the string of Heisman finalist QBs continues for OBD.

Thanks for the post, Smitty.

I read this and LOL'd. These rankings make as much sense as having Arch Manning, with wins over Mississippi State and two G5 teams, leading the Heisman Trophy pack.

Julian Sayin 2nd? Why? Because he signed with Bama before transferring to Ohio State. Because he looked good, not great, in the spring game, while missing throws to outstanding WRs.

The player with the most B1G success on the list is Luke Altmyer, a 5th-year senior who led the Illini to 10 wins in 2024-25, including a win against 'they should have made the PO!' South Carolina.

Nico I-Man led Tennessee to the playoffs last season. Riola won 7 games, including a bowl win. Ditto the 'Greek Rifle' at Rutgers. Mendoza has a lot of experience, and pro scouts love his potential, but there's no way he should be ahead of Altmyer.

Underwood is 17 years old and, like Sayin, he has yet to start a college game. Dante Moore has 4x the starting experience of these two.

I grew up in Massachusetts, but in this case, I could have come from Missouri: Show Me!

I like throwing darts too!

But in fairness, where should he be? Sayin and Underwood are arbitrary, but I’m not sure I could rate Moore higher than any of the others until he proves otherwise. IMO of course 😉

I don’t really have an issue with the rankings. Maiava made a ton of mistakes in crunch time last season. I am shocked he still had the job. I probably would have had Moore in front of him at 9.

Okay......Julian Sayin at #2 is just freakin ridiculous, he hasn't played a down, he isn't some sort of all world prospect like Lawrence was, that is just flat out wrong.

Mendonza at 2 is fine, I really really like him, he's consistent, he's tough, and he's proven.

Altmyer and Williams are a little high, I think Raiola is actually underrated. Moore should be like 7 or so, Maiava is should not be ahead of him, Underwood is also too high, Moore should be ahead of him.

Iamaleava is a the one where I just have no idea, I think he's talented, but he didn't put up great numbers, he did his part. Williams is too high, though I like him, but he needs to actually win at some point.

Allar

Sayin

Underwood

Maiava

Moore (Novo?).

Sayin is the real deal. Don't let a few mistakes in his Spring Game fool ya. He is under his 3rd OC.

Underwood is just a month away from doing damage.

Maiava is under rated.

Moore needs to be money. Can he win games like Gabriel did last year? I think Novo can. Moore needs what Novo has. Novo needs what Moore has. Muscle memory for Novo (deep passes), brain power and quicker decisions for Moore.

The five above them have all those components-deep ball accuracy, reads defenses well, hits key passes (on second down so you don't have to face third and long frequently), and clutch when they have to be.

As for that dude in Texas-he is going to burn plenty of barns in the South this year. If you get a chance-watch his trial by fire last October against Georgia,. He was constantly under duress, made the right decisions, and when he had enough time, he was making plays. The guy is going to dominate. And he has some competition. Ty Simpson is not one to sleep on. He is smooth, makes very good decisions, is accurate downfield all over the field, and is a playmaker in an offense designed for his skillset. People forget what DeBoer did for Michael Penix. Simpson is a smoother edition, that can also handle the duress he will face.

The SEC isn't dead yet.

So, here's to Moore giving Novo tips on timing deep balls, and Novo showing Moore how to unmask the middle of the field. Whoever it is, we need both skillsets. We have some pretty elite defenses to chew up.