Dan Lanning Gives Latest Oregon Updates, Thoughts on James Madison in College Football Playoff

The No. 5 Oregon Ducks return to Eugene for one more home game this year as they’ll host the No. 12 James Madison Dukes in the College Football Playoff on Saturday. Head coach Dan Lanning met with reporters on Monday to gives his latest updates on the Ducks and his thoughts on various matchups against James Madison.

Some of his key quotes as well as full video of his press conference can be found below.

Opening statement: Good first day of work. Hopping into JMU, obviously have done an exceptional job all year. You talk about one of the few teams that’s top 10 offense, top 10 defense. You watch their offense, they create explosive plays all over the board. Their quarterback can run the ball, their running back can run the ball. They extend it down the field. Defensively, they create a lot of issues. A lot of different looks, a ton of variety that we have to be able to practice and go through, but overall, really excited about the opportunity for our guy.”

On Tosh Lupoi and Will Stein facing challenge of juggling two jobs after being hired as head coaches

Lanning: They’ve handled the prep great, right. When you got two jobs, and they’re doing their job here at Oregon, a total level of focus and commitment on their part. There’s a lot of guys in this building. They know that this has never been just about them right on either side of the ball we have a lot of coaches involved in that prep. But ultimately, they’re handling it really well.”

On having Gary Bryant Jr. and Dakorien Moore back on the field, how close Evan Stewart is to playing

Lanning: “Everybody’s closer than they were yesterday. It’s good seeing guys out there.”

On how the team has benefitted from the time off

Lanning: “Yeah able to finish up strong academically. A chance for us to be able to do a reset as a coaching staff and evaluate what are we doing really well? What do we need to improve? What wrinkles can we add and then just get continued growth opportunity for our players.”

On Drew Mehringer’s involvement in game preparation, planning, in-game calling

Lanning: “There’s a ton of involvement. I mean, since the day we got here, Drew’s been very strategic in all elements of our game plan, run game, pass game, included personnel changes. He’s had a lot of that. But every single offensive coach has been really, really involved in that act.”

On early enrollees from 2026 recruiting class joining this week and throughout bowl prep

Lanning: “It’ll all start for us really in January.”

On what stands out about JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett

Lanning: “He can win with his legs. But I think what he doesn’t get enough credit for is the ability to connect on deep balls downfield. They’re a team that has a great play action game, and they’re able to hit shots on post routes, and able to attack you down the field vertically. But obviously he can run and creates an eleventh hat.”

On what he does that enables coordinators to have success

Lanning: “I don’t think it’s anything that I’m doing. I think we hire really good people that work extremely hard, and they realize that Oregon, there’s an opportunity to continue opportunities, and those guys reached their opportunities. So we hire really good people that work really hard at their job. There’s clear direction of the expectations, and those guys do a great job of modeling what it should look like to get that opportunity and become a head coach. They’ve learned .That they’ve sat in that seat, and maybe it’s a different seat, but there’s a lot of open lines of communication that are gonna allow them to have success.”

think we hire really good people that work extremely hard, and they realize that Oregon, there’s an opportunity to, you know, continue opportunities, and those guys reach their opportunities. So we hire really good people that work really hard with their job. There’s, there’s clear direction of the expectations, and those guys do a great job of modeling what, what it should look like to get that opportunity and become a head coach. They’ve learned that they’ve sat in that seat, and maybe it’s a different seat, but there’s a lot of open lines of communication. They’re gonna allow them to have success.”

On how Trey McNutt has attacked rehab process

Lanning: “He’s done a great job. And all these guys have been really eager. Again, it’s about us protecting them from themselves at times, but have been really eager to get out there and do the work.”

On what he’s seen from JMU defensive line

Lanning: “One just extremely disruptive, and they do a great job creating one on ones. Making it challenging where guys are gonna have to win single blocks, they’re gonna have to win one on one blocks. ID and protections are difficult at times too, with some of the looks that they present.”