Oregon football has a national championship-winning coach in Dan Lanning, which should help boost the Ducks in the offseason.
It’s impressive to me that new Oregon football coach Dan Lanning had the chance to finish what he started this season at Georgia. He burned the candle at both ends, living in two different states over the last month and racking up the airline miles in the process.
On Monday night, in the College Football National Championship Game, he aided Georgia’s defensive effort against an Alabama team they have seen before in this same spot. Only the Bulldogs were able to get the lead on Kelee Ringo’s interception and touchdown return. It was the Georgia defense that found a way to win the game and earn its first national title since 1980.
Lanning did have a few minutes to revel in the celebration last night, but over the last month, he has been busy assembling a staff at Oregon that includes some NFL talent. Tosh Lupoi was officially added as defensive coordinator on Monday. Lupoi comes to Oregon having worked at the NFL level with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. He also spent time with Alabama.
The Ducks have also been busy over the last month in the transfer portal bringing quarterback Bo Nix into the fold to start. One thing that is certain is that Lanning is not afraid to go to the portal to help his new team.
It will be interesting to see how this offseason unfolds for Oregon football and the changes that are made. When a new coach comes on board anywhere it typically takes a few years to get their style established, but with Lanning, I expect this timeline will be sped up a bit.
Oregon finishes the season ranked 20th in the AP poll and is a 20-1 shot to win the national title next year, but the intrigue at the start of the season will have the Ducks in the spotlight from day one. Oregon takes a national title-winning coach and will open the season against the national champion in Georgia. How fitting.