Maybe it was the layoff or the fierce talent and momentum of a loaded Buckeye roster, but Tosh Lupoi got badly out schemed by Chip Kelly in the 2025 Rose Bowl, the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Ohio State rolled out to a 34-0 lead by the second quarter, Oregon's worst loss since Georgia in Atlanta in 2022.
On Saturday Lupoi admitted as much, albeit in a large serving of word salad. After Day 2 of spring practice he said, "I think first, I've always got to look myself in the mirror. From a preparation standpoint, you know, we probably utilized too many things that helped us win the first time we beat them. (We need to) always be asking ourselves, you know, the what ifs, if they're getting to specific looks or moving around guys that they didn't do in the past."
We all saw it. Play after play OSU receivers were wide, wide open. The first play from scrimmage was a simple pass in the right flat to tight end Gee Scott that went for 30 yards. The third was a 45-yard touchdown to Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes led 7-0 before Duck fans could have two sips of a $20 beer.
Yesterday at Oregon Pro Day, the reporters asked Dan Lanning about that fateful, forgettable day and he said, "Life is all about experiences, right? I don't think you pick one experience. I think life is all about experiences. Every day we walk out here, we learn, we grow, and you've got to learn from wins. You've got to learn from losses."
"We certainly learned from that one, but this is a new season too, right? That has no impact on our next season. All the wins that we had last year, they have absolutely no impact on this next season either. So it's really about focusing on what's next and continuing to improve."
Saturday, Lupoi elaborated, though his answer had all the fuzziness of his close-cropped hair. He said, "I feel like there were a lot more copycats when we watched that game and broke it down in the past, in terms of bits and pieces from other teams that did work at times versus us," Lupoi said. "So (it's) just going back to almost a self-scout standpoint of 'what were the answers' when we did hive up an explosive, whether it's versus Illinois and the game is 38-9, and never having the imposter of victory or defeat effect the way that we post-debrief all of those answers."
It's good that the Oregon coaches have addressed the debacle internally, and that they're consistent about facing the shortcomings head on and taking responsibility. There's no evasion or excuses. You get the feeling that in the film room and in their meetings, they've been brutally frank with each other about what didn't work and how to raise the standard in 2025. These are competitive people. Dan Lanning has lost just six games in his career.
Tosh Lupoi touched on a lack of "Oregon Experience" in the secondary, but also expressed excitement in the measurables of this crop of DBs meeting what the Duck coaches expect. pic.twitter.com/JX309GVFpy
— That Show Out West (@ThatShowOutWest) March 17, 2025
The first thing they've done to address the issues of Jan. 1 has been to upgrade their talent, particularly in the secondary. They filled out the 2024 squad with earnest journeyman on the back end. This year, they've upgraded in speed, length and athleticism, although there's an inevitable drop-off in experience. In college football a team turns over its roster every four years. The hope is that Purdue transfer at safety Dillon Thieneman provides the leadership and work habits to elevate a young but prodigiously talented group. It's a good plan.
Lupoi is not a brilliant tactician or play caller. Kelly picked his pocket in Pasadena, so thoroughly he got an NFL job with the Raiders. What he does do well is recruit and instill passion. He's dogged, loyal, persistent.
The Best Defensive Performances of Tosh Lupoi's tenure at Oregon
2024
Oregon 49, UW 21
Held UW to 43 yards rushing and sacked Demond Williams 10 times, 244 net yards
Oregon 38, Illinois 9
Junior quarterback Luke Altmyer 17-35 passing for 161 yards 2 INTs. Held No. 20 Illini to 293 total yards
Oregon 35, Purdue 0
Friday night game in West Lafayette the week after Ohio State 35-0. First road shutout since 1992.
Despite making a cross-country trip on a short week, the Ducks dominated the Boilermakers.
Ryan Browne 9-19 passing for 93 yards. Three sacks and an interception, 0-3 on 3rd downs.
Oregon 38, Michigan 17
In the Big House, 270 total yards and a turnover on downs.
2023
Oregon 42, Colorado 6
Shedeur Sanders 23/33 159 1 0
Buffs held to 40 yards rushing on 28 carries, 199 total yards, six sacks
Oregon 35, Utah 6
In Salt Lake City, held Utes to 241 yards of offense and two field goals, 2.8 yards a carry and 1-3 on 4th down, 2 interceptions, two sacks
Oregon 35, No. 16 Oregon State 7
DJ Uiagalelei
19/35 220 1 TD 1 INT
Damien Martinez held to 38 yards on 13 carries
Beavs 53 yards rushing.
OSU 2-6 on 4th downs 2.2 yards per rush
""I love this profession so much because I can truly wake up every day in my life and holding not just the players accountable but myself to improve every day of my life in this profession.""Tosh Lupoi, spring practice 2022
They don't pay Coach Lupoi $2 million a year to make speeches. He's not a theorist. His motivational talks happen behind closed doors. In 2025, the mission for the Oregon coaching staff is to elevate their performance in the playoffs. Last season the team was 36th in the country in yards per play after giving up 1,023 yards in the last two games of the year against top offenses, 79 points to Penn State and OSU.