Dante Moore commits to Oregon: Huge win for Ducks, brutal loss for Michigan football

During ESPN's "SportsCenter" on Friday, Michigan five-star quarterback Dante Moore announced his commitment to the Oregon Ducks over LSU, Michigan, Texas A&M and others.

Given that he was the last uncommitted five-star quarterback in the class, his commitment carried major fallout across the country.

Here's a look at the biggest winners and losers from Moore's decision: 

Biggest Winner - Oregon Ducks

Big picture, it feels symbolically relevant that while Oregon is being left out of the Big Ten realignment discussion (for now) due to its perceived brand value, the Ducks just plucked a five-star quarterback out of the heart of Big Ten country - and away from one of the conference's flagship programs.

In terms of pure football value, it was also a major commitment for the Ducks.  

Four of the nation's top eight prospects n the class of 2023 are quarterbacks.

And Oregon, quite loudly, made it a make-or-break goal to get one of them, or fifth elite quarterback Jaden Rashada.

With Moore being the country's last uncommitted elite 2023 quarterback, it was all-or-nothing for the Ducks.

Following the stellar careers of Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert, the quarterback position has hit a developmental lull in Eugene - with a depth chart buoyed by transfers.

Getting Moore should reignite Oregon's long history of developing star signal-callers.

Biggest Loser - Michigan Wolverines

Michigan was the first program to offer the in-state quarterback when he was just an eighth-grader.

Furthermore, he was trained by Michigan legend Devin Gardner.

Just a few weeks ago, class of 2024 Michigan five-star quarterback C.J. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, committed to Notre Dame.

Moore's decision, therefore, isn't just salt in the wound.

But another deep cut for the Wolverines program. 

Michigan can try to flip another bluechip quarterback, but there isn't a clear path to an uncommitted signal-caller among the nation's top 350 prospects.

In fact, the last uncommitted top-350 prospect at quarterback is Dylan Lonergan, who is set to announce his decision Tuesday and is considering an SEC future. 

Jim Harbaugh is going to have to get creative to come up with a recruiting win at quarterback in the current recruiting cycle.

And even that will feel hollow given the pair of massive in-state misses. 

Winner - Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham

Dillingham is a young offensive coordinator who likes to have fun on social media.

That loud approach puts you in the spotlight.

Oregon desperately needed an elite quarterback in the 2023 recruiting cycle, and Dillingham was the one tasked with getting it done.

Over the past few months, two bluechip quarterbacks indicated that the Ducks seemed disinterested in names outside the "Big 4," which may have cost them safer four-star commitments earlier in the process. 

Instead of hedging its bets, Oregon stuck to its goals, pursued only elite options and finally landed the last one in Moore. 

Fair or not, nearly all of the credit or blame for the quarterback recruiting effort for the 2023 class was going to fall on Dillingham. 

No one is happier with Friday's commitment than the Ducks' young offensive coordinator. 

Loser - Folks ready to bury Oregon's recruiting abilities due to conference realignment 

Conference realignment, and the lack of Oregon's pursuit by the Big Ten or SEC, has led to many pundits questioning the strength of Oregon's brand.

Arguably the biggest commitment in the program's history just committed live on ESPN from the heart of Big Ten country.

Turns out, it's too early to bury Oregon and its brand. 

"I've been asked a lot about Oregon - 'How is this going to affect them moving forward?' I really don't see this affecting them at all," 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins said. "I think Oregon is such a strong national brand, and their staff recruits so aggressively. Whether they are in the Pac-12, Pac-10, the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12... doesn't matter to me what conference they are in, they've established themselves as a national brand. I think kids want to go there."

Winner - The "Pac-10" Conference

For the past several years, the Pac-12 footprint has produced plenty of elite quarterbacks.

But the conference hasn't been able to hand onto them - Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei and Alabama's Bryce Young immediately come to mind.

It's a welcomed change for the non-L.A. schools to get a national recruiting win at the quarterback position.