Oregon coach Dan Lanning to keep knocking on CFP national title door in Year 5
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Oregon coach Dan Lanning to keep knocking on CFP national title door in Year 5 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Entering his fifth season in Eugene and third year competing in the Big Ten, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning reflected on the immense growth of the Ducks program during his tenure. Lanning pointed to a distinct roster dynamic separating this squad from previous years.
"Last year I felt like we had a team that had a ton of talent," Lanning told reporters Wednesday.
This year we have a team that has a lot of experience returning". He praised the steady leadership of university administration, including President Scholz, athletic director Rob Mullens, and conference commissioner Tony Petitti.
Detailing an unconventional off-season team-building initiative, Lanning shared stories from an international trip to Tokyo, Japan, where coaches and players conducted youth clinics, engaged in cultural immersion, and strengthened bonds away from the gridiron.
Accompanied in Chicago by player representatives Dante Moore, tight end Jamari Johnson, and defensive lineman Teitum Tuioti, Lanning highlighted the exceptional maturity of his starting quarterback.
MORE: College football rankings post-spring Top 25
Addressing roster management under modern college football rules, Lanning embraced the elimination of traditional redshirt constraints, stating clearly, "If you're good enough, you're old enough for us. If guys are playing above the line, we want to find roles for them on our team".
Lanning also addressed the arrival of transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola into the quarterback room alongside Dante Moore, expressing complete confidence in the transparent culture built within the program.
Looking ahead, Lanning emphasized that external expectations pale in comparison to the rigorous standards set internally within the building as the Ducks prepare for another grueling Big Ten campaign.
MORE: Why the College Football Playoff field should expand to 16
More Big Ten news
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos