Two of the biggest myths about Oregon football are that "Dan Lanning inherited a Ferrari" or "Dan Lanning inherited a loaded roster." Those lazy criticisms completely miss the point.
When Lanning came to Eugene in December of 2021 after Mario Cristobal's abrupt departure, the Ducks had achieved one Top Ten finish in the last seven seasons, in 2019 when Justin Herbert led them to the Rose Bowl. They'd been through three head coaches in seven years, and in the last two seasons they'd gone 4-3 and 10-4, blown out in bowl games at the end of each.
Hired on December 11, Lanning had two weeks to salvage the recruiting class before early signing day, while he was still coaching the Georgia defense on their way to the national championship.
By January 4, 2022 only seven players had signed to Oregon while five-star tackle Kelvin Banks, four-star linebacker TJ Dudley and quarterback Tanner Bailey all decommitted. Gracen Halton flipped to Oklahoma. Verone McKinley and Kayvon Thibodeaux entered the NFL draft.
Brandon Dorlus and Trikweze Bridges would later transfer. Blue-chip offensive tackle Kingsley Suamatia had already left the program. Logan Sagapolu and Cam McCormick followed Cristobal to Miami.
Lanning went to work. He picked up Bo Nix and running back Bucky Irving in the transfer portal, defensive back Christian Gonzalez. He flipped Jordan James from Georgia and quarterback Austin Novosad from Baylor. In April 2022, the Ducks signed five-star offensive tackle Josh Conerly, who went on to become a No. 1 draft pick and a two-year starter.
The Ducks retained only eight starters from the Cristobal era, notably Jeffrey Bassa, center Jackson Powers-Johnson and offensive lineman TJ Bass. Over the next two years more than 30 players would be processed out. Cornerback DJ James and quarterback Robby Ashford transferred to Auburn.
The program wasn't broke went Lanning took over, but over the next three years he overhauled the roster and transformed the culture. His winning percentage of .867 trails only Chip Kelly at .868 and the end of this year he exceeds Kelly's tenure.
The Ducks had success under Mike Bellotti and a magical run under Kelly and the first two years under Mark Helfrich, but Lanning has taken the program further and higher, and he still hasn't reached his limit. His teams are deeper, bigger, more physical and more talented.
He's created a culture here marked by connection and commitment. There isn't a Duck fan alive who would want to go back. Dan Lanning didn't inherit a Ferrari. He wasn't born on third base. He used the portal and high school recruiting to rebuild quickly, creating a juggernaut.