ESPN identifies the most pressing question surrounding Oregon’s 2024 spring season.

The Oregon Ducks are generating a lot of excitement even if the 2024 football season is still a long way off. The Ducks are ranked third in the nation, behind the Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs, in a number of major preseason polls (including ESPN’s).

The top 25 teams’ spring football rosters were revealed on Wednesday by a group of ESPN writers. Staff writer Paolo Uggetti offered the following analysis on the Oregon Ducks’ decision regarding “Who will win the quarterback battle”:

“Bo Nix’s years of eligibility have finally expired, and Oregon will need to play a new quarterback this coming season. In some ways, the biggest spring question for the Ducks has already been answered as coach Dan Lanning & Co. pounced on the transfer portal to bring in not only Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma but five-star recruit Dante Moore from UCLA. Coming off a 3,660-yard, 30-touchdown season at Oklahoma, Gabriel appears to be the likely choice to start, but Moore’s potential has clearly been unrealized through one season. Moore struggled to lead the Bruins in his first year but showed flashes of what made him one of the top high school quarterbacks in his class. Oregon has national title aspirations, and answering its quarterback question (as well as outfitting an offense around said quarterback) will go a long way toward helping the Ducks actually hoist the trophy.”

Despite acquiring two high-profile quarterbacks in the summer, all indications point to Dillon Gabriel starting in the first game. In my opinion, there is a 100-1 chance that Gabriel won’t start for Oregon in Week 1. Nevertheless, Uggetti’s question’s premise wasn’t entirely incorrect.

How effectively Gabriel will fit into Oregon’s offense is, in my opinion, one of the main concerns for 2024. Gabriel has established himself as a top quarterback in his first five years of college, but we haven’t seen him wear a Ducks suit or lead Will Stein’s offense yet. Gabriel must continue to be extraordinary if the Ducks are to reach their full potential in the upcoming campaign.