Oregon-Texas Tech Orange Bowl CFP QF draft preview … The CFP quarter-final tripleheader on ESPn kicks off at Noon ET with #5 Oregon facing #4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl in Miami. And while the game is the story, one of the major subplots is whether Ducks’ QB Dante Moore (#5, 6-2, 210) ultimately opts to enter this year’s draft where he would immediately be thrust it the debate as to who is the #1 prospect overall. Moore has indicated in the past that he is very happy where he is, but a favorable evaluation from the NFL’s special draft advisory committee just might get him to rethink his options. This game should also feature an intriguing dual between Texas Tech DEs DE David Bailey (#31, 6-2, 250), an explosive edge rusher who led the country with 12.5 sacks this fall and is starting to generate plenty of first-round buzz, and Romello Height (#9, 6-3, 240) going against Oregon’s very good bookend OTs Isaiah World (#76, 6-7, 320) and Alex Harvey (#71, 6-5, 330).
In fact, nobody should be surprised if Bailey in particular ends up with a top 5-10 grade this coming April if he tests well this winter, while LB Jake Rodriquez (#10, 6-1, 235), who leads the country with 7 forced fumbles, and rock-solid NT Lee Hunter (#2, 6-3, 335) are emerging second-day prospects for the Red Raiders. However, whether Tech can hang with the Ducks could depend on the health of QB Behren Morton (#2, 6-2, 210), who has been sidelined much of the past 6 weeks with a leg injury, but is reportedly close to returning, although he’s more a later round or free agent along with WR Caleb Douglas (#5, 6-3, 205), LB and S Cole Wisniewski (#5, 6-3, 220).
And whether Moore, who has two years of eligibility left, actually enters the draft or not, the Ducks still could be major players at the 2026 draft as they feature a umber of high-ceiling prospects including DE Matayo Uiagalelei (#10, 6-4, 270), TE in Kenyon Sadiq (#18, 6-3, 245), the latter of whom is arguably the top prospect at that position, and rising DT A’mauri Washington (#52, 6-3, 330). At the same time, OTs World and Harvey are part of what may be the best OL in college football which also includes Poncho Laloulu (#72, 6-2, 320) at C and Emmanuel Pregnon (#75, 6-4, 320) and rising junior Dave Iuli (#74, 6-3, 325) at the OGs. Meanwhile, other players to watch on the Ducks defence include S Dillon Thieneman (#31, 6-0, 205) and MLB Bryce Boettcher (#28, 6-2, 235).
