Oregon QB Turns Down $50M to Stay in School Another Year

Dante Moore just made a decision that would have been unthinkable five years ago. The 20-year-old University of Oregon quarterback turned down a projected $50 million NFL payday to play one more college season with his teammates.

Moore, projected as a top-two draft pick, announced Wednesday he's staying with the Ducks for 2026. He threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, numbers that would have made him a fortune in the pros.

"As a kid, since I was 4 years old, I've dreamed about being in the NFL," Moore told ESPN. "But this team, we've been through a lot, a lot of people are returning, so we've got some exciting things to come this year."

His choice reveals something bigger than one player's decision. College athletes can now earn real money while staying in school, thanks to name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules that started in 2021.

Moore has already built a $2.3 million net worth through deals with Nike, Beats by Dr. Dre, and Raising Cane's. He's the 12th wealthiest college football player in America while still pursuing his degree.

The game changer came last summer when colleges gained the ability to directly pay athletes for the first time. Schools can now distribute about $20.5 million in NIL revenue to their players each season.

Oregon has become an NIL powerhouse thanks to Nike founder Phil Knight, who has poured over $1 billion into his alma mater. His Ducks of a Feather program functions like a premium marketing agency for Oregon athletes.

The Ripple Effect

Moore isn't alone in his thinking. The 2025 NBA draft saw the lowest number of early entries in a decade, with more than a dozen high-potential candidates withdrawing at the deadline.

The math now makes sense for staying in school. NBA rookie minimum salaries start at $1.2 million, a number many college athletes can match or beat with endorsement deals while still improving their game and draft stock.

Basketball insider Jeff Borzello noted that players projected for late first-round picks would earn below $3 million per season in the pros. They can now make similar money in college while getting better coaching, more playing time, and finishing their education.

Stanford's Andrew Luck made a similar choice in 2011 to finish his architectural design degree, but he did it for education alone. Today's athletes get the best of both worlds: financial security and personal growth.

Moore's decision shows young athletes they don't have to rush their dreams to secure their futures anymore.