Saturday saw Oregon's hopes of winning a National Championship this season crash and burn as the Ducks went on the road to Stillwater and were shocked by the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a 39-31 loss. The Ducks entered the season as the No. 2 team in the Country, and through two weeks have struggled to beat Boise State and looked like they didn't belong on the same field as Oklahoma State.
The only positives anyone could take from the game is that Devon Jackson made two incredible plays, otherwise, everything was truly a mess. After such a mind-boggling loss, Dan Lanning's press conference became a must-watch event, as everyone was looking for answers about what they just watched. And with that, Lanning didn't hesitate at all in calling out this team for such a rough performance.
"The score was closer than it really was, because it wasn't close," a frustrated Lanning said after the final whistle. "We got our a** kicked."
Dan Lanning: "The score was closer than it really was, because it really wasn’t close. We got our a— kicked." #GoDucks
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) September 12, 2026
Dan Lanning admits the disappointing truth after Oregon's awful loss
The only reason that Oregon even hung around in this game was the fact that Drew Mestemaker had two passes tipped at the line of scrimmage, leading to interceptions. The Cowboys should've led by 20+ early in this one, and as the game went along, they proved they were better at each turn in the game.
Lanning wasn't lying when he said that Oregon got its tail kicked, as when you look at the box score, it's embarrassing just how badly the Cowboys beat up on the Ducks. The Cowboys outgained Oregon 554 yards to 281 yards, even while throwing a pair of interceptions that ended drives. When you consider what this team is supposed to be, the yardage figures alone are proof that the Ducks fell short of every expectation.
The defense is supposed to be one of the best units in the country, headlined by the "elite" defensive line group and a secondary with several high-priced pieces. The Cowboys constantly pushed the defensive line backward, averaging 5.9 yards per carry after losing their starting left tackle to a season-ending injury. The Ducks' high-priced secondary allowed 7.4 yards per pass as several players looked lost in coverage.
Oregon allowing 554 yards is bad, but the performance of the offense is just as bad when you look at the talent. Dante Moore has been billed as a Heisman Trophy contender and a potential top-5 pick, yet he started this game 5-for-15 passing, and the offense never recovered. The rushing attack wasn't much better picking up just 90 yards on 30 attempts as the offensive line didn't get any push.
The penalties Lanning hoped the team would clean up remained an issue as the Ducks committed seven penalties for 66 yards while Oklahoma State only committed two fouls, one of which was on their head coach for arguing a missed facemask call that should've set Oregon back even further.
Oregon got outclassed in every facet of the game, and while Lanning will say that the blame starts and ends with him, it's simply not true. The coordinators Lanning hired to replace Tosh Lupoi and Will Stein were abysmal in this game, and have been massive downgrades. The roster was billed as one of the nation's best, and is paid to that level, and they've all disappointed.
It's simply inexcusable by the Ducks to get their "a** kicked" as Lanning declared, and it's impossible to find a quick fix. There were no expenses spared when it came to putting this roster together, and to lose to a team that fell against Tulsa last week, showcases that this team has major issues.
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