Dan Lanning leads Oregon past 6-3 mark despite roster turmoil
The Ducks survived a quarterback injury and a coaching change to beat Ohio State 38-14, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Dan Lanning guided Oregon to a 38-14 victory over Ohio State on Saturday, improving the Ducks to 6-3. The win came at Ohio Stadium, where the visiting team extended its lead to 38-14 before the Buckeyes scored again. By the time Ohio State put points on the board, many fans had already left the venue.
The win capped a difficult stretch for a team that entered the 2026 season with high expectations. Oregon began the year with a close win over Boise State, followed by an upset loss to Oklahoma State. The Ducks then dropped a 17-15 home game to UCLA, a result that triggered a change in the quarterback room.
Dante Moore, who suffered a severe injury during a slide against USC, has not played since and is out for the season. His backup, Dylan Raiola, struggled in his first start, throwing seven interceptions. Lanning benched Raiola for Brock Thomas, who also struggled against Nebraska. Lanning subsequently returned to Raiola, who led a fourth-quarter drive to secure the win.
The Ducks fell to 4-3 after losing to Illinois in late October. Illinois started a true freshman quarterback due to its own injury issues. That loss placed the team in a precarious position, with questions about whether the roster would hold together under pressure.
Lanning responded to the slump by firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. The move was an admission that the internal promotion did not yield the desired results. The change in staff appears to have stabilized the offense. The defense has also found a consistent rhythm, playing well for more than a month.
The team has shown resilience in close games since the coaching change. Oregon trailed Northwestern by 14 points but fought back to win 34-26. Against Ohio State, the Ducks withstood an early 14-0 deficit to take control of the game. These performances suggest the squad has avoided the collapse that often follows a slow start in the transfer portal era.
The Ducks remain in the race for a College Football Playoff spot, though the path is narrow. They have completed their toughest scheduling stretch. The team will finish the regular season with home games against Michigan and Washington. A road game against 2-6 Michigan State sits between those two matchups.
Lanning’s tenure has been marked by strong recruiting and motivation, but critics have long argued he lacks the game-day adjustments needed to win close contests. The 2026 season tested that theory. The Ducks have lost three games this year, including upsets, yet the coaching staff has kept the team competitive.
The Ducks are unlikely to win the Big Ten title or the national championship. Their primary goals for the season appear to be slipping away. However, Lanning has managed a roster that lost its starter and changed its offensive staff while remaining in contention for a postseason berth.
The season will conclude in a few weeks. Oregon’s record stands at 6-3. The team has survived its most volatile period and is now focused on closing out the schedule with two home games and one road trip.
