Oregon and head coach Dan Lanning enjoyed an unforgettable season, finishing 13-0 in their inaugural year in the Big Ten and clinching the conference title. However, they couldn’t overcome the Buckeyes in their first College Football Playoff game with the 38-year-old coach at the helm.
The Ducks had been the top team in the nation throughout the season, earning the number one seed and a bye in the opening round. Unfortunately, they found themselves up against eighth-seeded Ohio State, who had just bounced back from a significant defeat to Tennessee in the first round.
Dan Lanning Is To Blame
Ohio State would bring its outstanding performance to the West Coast and do the same to the Ducks, scoring the first 34 points and winning 41-21.
Lanning was unprepared for the game and took full responsibility, stating, “They clicked tonight, we didn’t. I didn’t get our team prepared.”
Dan Lanning on the loss to Ohio State: “They clicked tonight, we didn’t. I didn’t get our team prepared.”
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) January 2, 2025
n the coaching realm, there are times when you have to acknowledge a poor performance and commend the opposing team for their victory, which is exactly what happened in this instance.
Lanning performed exceptionally well throughout the season, and while it’s disappointing that Ohio State bested him to end the year, he remains one of the sport’s elite head coaches. Every coach experiences one of these challenging games.
There’s no doubt that Lanning is among the top five coaches in college football, and he will continue to keep the Ducks competitive for years to come.
Oregon is just beginning its journey and isn’t close to its ultimate goal yet. They will reach that promised land one day, and Lanning will be the one to lead them there.
DON’T blame yourself coach! Some nights just aren’t winnable! You are still very admired and appreciated.