Oregon Football: Where Does Dan Lanning Rank Today?

Our Oregon football program has sported some of the best offensive minds in the game, and now (almost poetically), Dan Lanning’s defensive prowess & passion have elevated Oregon into a true blue-blooded powerhouse. They rank 3rd in the country in this week’s dreaded AP Poll, after beating Penn State in a Whiteout matchup where the Ducks were rarely in doubt, and they look ahead to host Indiana for College Gameday in Eugene. Even Mr. FishDuck weighed in with me about the upcoming game after he suggested that everyone should…Get your cheap tickets at TicketX!

Despite Penn State losing an inexcusable matchup against a borderline-coachless UCLA team, Oregon has had a GREAT resume to start the 2025 season, dominating reasonably effective opponents and looking like a fantastic pick for winning the College Football Playoff this year. The question is: Does Lanning’s coaching tenure ALREADY rank as the best in Oregon history? Has his recruiting, win percentage, and impact on the program surpassed those in the past? It’s a lot to mount on a young coach so early in his career, but it isn’t completely out of the question.

Looking beyond how effective he’s been in the past two years, a ton of elite coaching talent has come before Lanning. Mike Bellotti shot the Ducks into the stratosphere over the 1995-2008 seasons, creating a legitimate spot for program recognition coast to coast, while Chip Kelly revolutionized the Ducks’ offense & got Oregon all the way to a national championship appearance. These two are the prime candidates for reshaping what Oregon is, and remain the fan favorites from what Oregon football coaches have had to offer.

Aside from these two, a handful of others have offered immense talent and impact on Oregon’s football program. Mark Helfrich had some great teams with Marcus Mariota and played in the first College Football Playoff Championship, while Rich Brooks still stands as the longest-tenured head coach in program history. There’s really no shortage of coaches who offered Oregon everything they had. I just think Lanning has a little more than any of them ever did, especially with the foundation they all built for Lanning to catapult from.

Lanning has led Oregon with confidence, ingenuity, and unbelievable passion – Photo by Craig Strobeck

Lanning May Not Be the Best Oregon Football Coach Yet, But He WILL Be

Even though I already think he’s my favorite coach in Oregon history, I’m betting on what Lanning will be. He hasn’t won the Ducks a championship yet; he will. He hasn’t had a Heisman-winning quarterback yet; he will. He’s had trouble with Washington; he won’t anymore. These aren’t projections. Lanning has handcrafted the best teams Oregon has ever had, year in and year out, utilizing the assets available to him and building a program that is more than ready to take a championship-level step.

He has lost ONE GAME in 675 days. All of his early head coaching ailments associated with poor fourth-down decisions, a lack of size upfront, and rivalry game shortcomings have been dissolved. Oregon looks better than they ever have under Lanning, and it’s no coincidence that he’s leading the charge with two elite coordinators. Head coaches are only as good as their staff, and Lanning’s tenure so far has been defined by some stellar counterparts in Tosh Lupoi and Will Stein.

As for the players, Lanning’s tenacious passion and unrelenting effort have elevated players from good to great, and great to NFL-ready. Dante Moore had never started for Oregon before 2025. The difference in his precision and poise since playing at UCLA makes it look like he’s been at Oregon since Kenny Wheaton was gonna score. Dakorien Moore? Instant impact. He might have been the best player on the field against Penn State. Bear Alexander? Completely reshaped his game, which Georgia and USC couldn’t do. If Dakorien or Dante weren’t the best players on the field at State College, Alexander was. Don’t poke the Bear when Lanning’s his coach.

So many players Dan has acquired have not only played great, but have ELEVATED from their previous play at other programs or in seasons prior. Lanning has brought EVERYTHING and more to the Ducks, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen at Oregon. With the inside look via Ducks vs Them every week, you can’t help but love what he’s doing for this program to win championships in seasons ahead. I can’t wait to see Dan under the brightest lights possible in 2025 AND 2026, as he leads this program to unseen heights and earns the right to be crowned the best coach Oregon has ever had.

Anyway, enough from me, Oregon fans. If it came down to it today, where do you rank him among Oregon coaches? What would he have to do to be the best coach Oregon’s ever had running their football program? Where do you think Lanning will rank among ALL head coaches in college football history when it’s all said and done? Let us know in the FishDuck Forum with decorum.

GO DUCKS!

Alex Heining
Los Angeles, California
Top Photo By: Steven Chan

Alex Heining

Alex Heining is an Oregon alumni from the graduate class of 2021. After studying sports business and media studies, he has moved into the field of digital marketing as a copywriter and content manager in the Los Angeles area. Still, he loves his Ducks and goes to local high school games all over the Los Angeles and Orange County area to check out new recruits of the future (and a SoFi game or two with the pros). On any given Saturday, expect to find him doing martial arts, playing the guitar, or screaming at the tv over a missed holding penalty.