Oregon reaches 6-3 after Dan Lanning fires offensive coordinator
The Ducks have won two straight games since replacing Drew Mehringer, surviving a brutal 2026 season with a chance at the College Football Playoff.
By Fatou Kim ·
Oregon entered 2026 as a national title contender, but the Ducks are now 6-3 with little time left to prove that reputation.
The season began with a 49-3 loss to Georgia in 2022 that defined early criticism of head coach Dan Lanning. Critics argued he was a strong recruiter but a weak game-day manager. That narrative has persisted since he took the job.
This year, Oregon started with a close win over Boise State followed by a surprise loss to Oklahoma State. Both new coordinators, who were internal promotions, struggled to find rhythm. The offense and defense both looked unsettled.
The situation worsened two weeks later when quarterback Dante Moore suffered a severe injury against USC. Moore has not played since and is out for the season. Backup Dylan Raiola started the next game and threw seven interceptions in a 17-15 home loss to UCLA. Lanning then benched Raiola for Brock Thomas, who struggled against Nebraska before Raiola returned to lead a game-winning drive.
By late October, Oregon was 4-2 but faced a true freshman quarterback for Illinois. The Ducks lost that game, dropping to 4-3 and facing a potential collapse. Many teams with high expectations have quit on their seasons in the transfer portal era, but Lanning kept his roster focused.
Lanning made a decisive move by firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. The dismissal acknowledged a tactical error that other coaches might have hidden behind pride. The change stabilized the team.
The following week, Oregon trailed Northwestern by 14 points. The Ducks rallied to win 34-26. On Saturday, they faced Ohio State at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes took a 14-0 early lead, but Oregon responded.
By the time Ohio State scored their next points, Oregon had extended their lead to 38-14. The crowd began to leave the stadium early. The final score was not explicitly detailed in the source, but the margin indicated a decisive victory.
Oregon now sits at 6-3. The remaining schedule includes home games against Michigan and Washington, with a road trip to 2-6 Michigan State in between. The defense has performed consistently for over a month, and the offense has shown more comfort since the coordinator change.
The Ducks may not win the Big Ten or secure a national championship, but they have survived their toughest stretch. Lanning has demonstrated how to manage a season where nearly every variable worked against him. The team has proven it can compete even when the roster is depleted and the expectations were high.
