The next quarterback of the New Orleans Saints might be playing on Saturday. Redshirt junior Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers will travel to square off with redshirt sophomore Dante Moore and the Oregon Ducks in a matchup of two potential top-ten draft picks at quarterback; each passer’s star has risen rapidly to start the college football season, and plenty of NFL scouts are going to be watching them closely as they build their big boards for the 2026 draft.
With so many young guns hyped up over the summer having quieted down when the season started, Mendoza and Moore have become big risers in scouting circles. If the Saints are smart, they’ll have someone in attendance to watch both quarterbacks live. There’s a lot you can learn from watching them interact with teammates on the sideline and lead the huddle.
They’re right there together statistically. Moore has completed 100 of 134 passes (74.6%) for 1,210 yards, with 14 touchdowns against a single interception. Mendoza is 89-of-122 (73.0%) for 1,208 yards and 16 touchdowns, with an interception of his own. While Moore is more slightly built at a listed 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, he’s taken just one sack compared to five from the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Mendoza. They aren’t competing against each other directly, of course, but the opportunity to compare them in the same game is must-watch TV.
Until Spencer Rattler gets his record as a starter tilted in the right direction (1-10 doesn’t inspire enough confidence) and we know what the Saints have in Tyler Shough, the team must continue to scout quarterbacks in search of a sure thing under center. Saturday’s game is going to draw a ton of eyes from around the NFL, and some attention needs to come from New Orleans. Kickoff on CBS is set for 2:30 p.m. CT from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.