On New Year’s Day, two college football matchups carried real NFL intrigue (especially for the Las Vegas Raiders). Oregon faced Texas Tech, and Indiana played Alabama. Both games featured high-end prospects, including two quarterbacks who could shape the top of the 2026 draft: Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza.
Their emergence has only intensified the debate about which passer is the better long-term fit for the Raiders. They are also markedly different in style. Mendoza, Indiana’s quarterback, projects as a vocal, high-visibility leader—the type who commands a room and reinforces it in public. Moore, by contrast, is a quieter presence, more inclined to lead by example than through speeches.
That contrast will be on display again soon. Moore and Mendoza are scheduled to meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 9, offering a direct stage for a debate that is already gaining traction.
Dante Moore struggles but prevails against Texas Tech
Oregon’s 23-point win over Texas Tech was more competitive than the final score suggests. The Ducks’ offense labored in the first half, leaning on short throws near the line of scrimmage and rarely pushing the ball downfield. Texas Tech’s defense, among the nation’s better units, helped set that tone.
Moore felt it, too. Ben Rodriguez intercepted him on a pass that never truly had a window. It was not a statement performance, but Moore showed composure through the uneven stretches. He steadied himself, protected the ball afterward and helped Oregon regain control as the game wore on.
Still, the margin for error came from elsewhere. Oregon did not ask Moore to carry the scoring load—he accounted for no touchdowns—and the defense consistently delivered the stops the offense needed. As a result, Moore’s draft stock likely held steady rather than rising.
Fernando Mendoza rises to the occasion against Alabama
Indiana has long been one of college football’s struggling programs. Alabama, by contrast, is the sport’s standard-bearer, a dynasty synonymous with national titles. Even with the Crimson Tide’s deeper roster, this matchup still carried weight because it measured Indiana against the nation’s most established baseline.
Unlike Oregon’s game, this one turned one-sided. Indiana controlled the line of scrimmage, won the situational downs and dictated the tempo from start to finish. Mendoza threw three touchdown passes to fuel the surge, capitalizing on protection and decisive reads.
The defense did its part with timely stops, but Mendoza delivered the defining moments. He was sharp when the game demanded it, answering pressure with production—the kind of response evaluators want to see against an NFL-caliber roster.
Which quarterback fits the Raiders?
By comparison, the Raiders cannot go wrong with either prospect. The franchise has not drafted a quarterback in the first round since 2007, and the results of leaning on veteran solutions are difficult to ignore. If Las Vegas is serious about changing its trajectory, the clearest path is to invest in a young quarterback and build around him.
That plan, however, starts up front. The offensive line needs major upgrades, because no quarterback thrives behind constant pressure and weekly breakdowns in protection. Moore offers more as a scrambler and off-schedule playmaker. Mendoza, though, has shown he can steady an offense with less around him, producing in tougher circumstances and leaning on poise as much as talent.
Their head-to-head meeting could sharpen the conversation for Las Vegas. It may not be a final verdict, but it will be the cleanest comparison point yet—and it will matter to a team searching for its next identity.
So which quarterback should the Raiders take this offseason: Moore or Mendoza?
*Top Photo: Official Raiders Website/Getty