Oregon Ducks Must Prepare for Humbling Question During Big Ten Media Days

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The Oregon Ducks have had the talent to compete for national championships in the previous two seasons.

However, the Ducks ended their seasons in 2024 and 2025 with blowout losses to Ohio State and Indiana. Much of the blame lies with Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and his staff. 

Lanning and his staff failed to prepare the team in those losses. Offensive coordinator Will Stein left to be the head coach of Kentucky after the Peach Bowl, and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi became the head coach of Cal. 

Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports believes the best question to ask Lanning and Oregon at the Big Ten Media Days this week is how new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton are adjusting to their new jobs.

"Continuity is everything in college football, so promoting Drew Mehringer to OC and Chris Hampton to DC should alleviate most of those concerns," Marcello wrote. "The defense returns eight starters, and the aforementioned offense is stacked with Moore, a pair of young running backs, and the return of Evan Stewart, who missed last season with injury. 

"This is Dan Lanning's best team yet in Eugene, so digging deep into just how different it is this season with two new coordinators is important this week in Chicago."

Lanning could have gone out and added a big-name coordinator or coordinators this offseason, but decided to put faith in two coaches that have helped Oregon for years.

"Chris and Drew have been tremendous coaches and leaders since joining our program and are more than deserving of taking these next steps in their careers," Lanning said. 

"They have each done an unbelievable job of helping our student-athletes excel both on and off the field. We are thrilled to be able to promote them to our coordinator roles and maintain the momentum we have created as a program and a coaching staff."

It may take a few games for both coordinators to settle in with weekly adjustments and calling plays during the game. Fortunately for the Ducks, the roster should be too overwhelming in the early part of the season.

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