Dan Lanning bracing Ducks for year two after conquering Big Ten

LAS VEGAS — Falling short after leading his team to a 13-0 start, including a Big Ten Title and the Playoffs’ No. 1 seed last season, has Oregon’s coach eager to start year four in Eugene.

Dan Lanning didn’t really know what to expect during his first campaign in the Big Ten. The naysayers claimed his team was too finesse for a conference that’s synonymous with physicality. However, Lanning and his staff adjusted on the fly, provided a great work ethic for the players and the Ducks were able to hoist the hardware once the dust settled.

“A year ago we got asked the question, are we tough enough to be in the Big Ten,” Lanning said. “I think we were able to answer those questions on the field last year.”

The Ducks also won seven of their nine Big Ten games of the regular season by double digits. All of last year’s success means Oregon will be getting the best from every team in 2025. So Lanning has to prepare his players mentally and physically for whenever adversity strikes.

Although the Ducks set the bar high, and tied a school-record for wins, Lanning felt they didn’t finish the job. Getting blown out in the Rose Bowl is providing plenty of motivation as the team starts fall camp. From the coaching staff, down to the players, everyone is willing to do whatever it takes to win it all.

“Our theme for this team is double down, and we’ve done an unbelievable job of building this team over time,” he said. “You look at our success season to season, and as this team has grown, the process works, and we’re close.”

Lanning continues to recruit like a monster, and understands the type of athletes it’s going to take to stay successful in the trenches. Familiarity among the coaching staff, instead of a revolving door of assistants is also crucial to Lanning. Will Stein is entering his third year of leading the offense. Meanwhile, Tosh Lupoi is approaching his fourth season of orchestrating Oregon’s defense. Lanning has confidence in his staff, and believes when there’s trust in coaching circles, anything can happen.

“We’ve got several of our staff members back,” the 39-year old coach said. “Even though they’ve been given opportunities to be other places, they chose to be here, and that’s credit to the success of our team, but that’s also a piece of the success to our team is the continuity that we’ve been able to have.”

Oregon lost 10 players to the 2025 NFL Draft, but Lanning has pieces in place on both sides of the ball for the Ducks to keep the wheels rolling too. Despite the loss of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore provides valuable experience from his time at UCLA, and is familiar with Stein’s system. Defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei knows how to wreak havoc off the edge, and sets the tone up front. Linebacker Bryce Boettcher is arguably the hardest working defender on the team, considering he won the Burlsworth Trophy last season.

With leaders like them on the team, there’s no way the Ducks will be complacent. Lanning’s boys want to prove last year’s success wasn’t a fluke. Not to mention there’s no Ohio State or Michigan on the schedule, and Oregon’s toughest games will be at Penn State and Washington. Over the next four weeks the depth chart will become official. Now it’s all about navigating through the a grueling month of practice, and establishing leaders and playmakers . Lanning also has new weapons that he can’t wait to unleash on the Big Ten.

“When you see our team play, you’re going to see a team that plays with toughness.”