Ooops! Look who got a reality check. That’s none other than Oregon Ducks HC Dan Lanning. The Rose Bowl gave them a grounding alert to maintain an undefeated streak. Moving into the third quarter, Ohio State already got a 41-15 lead. Already, things must have been hard for Lanning & Co. But the college football world hardly cares. Especially when it comes to Colorado Buffaloes HC Deion Sanders’ dear fans.

After all, Lanning dished out a brutal shade for Coach Prime’s program in the 2023 season. The famous ‘playing for clicks’ insult. Now that they are themselves struggling against Ryan Day’s, Buckeyes, Deion’s confidant, reminded Lanning of the insult and how it came to him as a boomerang.

Dan Lanning got hit by Karma

Well, you must be aware of how dramatic the 2024 transfer season has been for the Buffs fam. But do you remember the blame that Colorado transfer Cormani McClain had put on Deion’s program? The cornerback decided to leave Boulder and as a reason stated, “I just don’t want to play for clicks. I actually want to be involved with a great leading program.” But not many know that this “playing for clicks” blame first came not from McClain but fellow Oregon HC Lanning. On September 23, 2023, the Ducks crushed the Buffaloes, landing them a 42-6 defeat. It was Coach Prime’s first defeat in Colorado. Even before the face-off, Lanning fired shots at Deion’s program. But poor Lanning! Karma has hit him hard this time. 

This time Oregon got bashed hard by the Buckeyes as they got a 41-15 lead in the Rose Bowl, zipping up Lanning’s big mouth. And how could Deion’s true friend E. Dewey Smith keep shut in such a situation? Even before the game ended, he tweeted, “Look who’s playing for “clicks & likes” in the Rose Bowl…. lololol….#RoseBowl.” Now let’s go back to 2023. Back then, the Oregon HC raised a warning for Colorado claiming, “The Cinderella story is over, man. They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins. There’s a difference. This game ain’t gonna be played in Hollywood, it’s gonna be played on grass.” Eventually, Lanning’s words turned out to be true. 

Before facing off the Ducks, Deion’s Colorado raced to a 3-0 record. But ever since they stumbled against Oregon they continued to fumble and ended the 2023 season with a disappointing 4-8 record. But this season, the Buffs proved to Lanning that it’s not ‘clicks.’

Tension resurfaced as Deion Sanders and Dan Lanning crossed paths 

That September meeting in Eugene marked the first significant roadblock for Deion in his transformative tenure in Boulder. But the program has shaken off all the insults. After all, Colorado’s narrative took an unexpected turn as their two-way star Travis Hunter claimed the ultimate victory, the Heisman Trophy. Now that’s what you call ‘Kill them with silence.’ The best comeback to Lanning’s infamous “playing for clicks” comment. And do you know what’s even better?

The Buffs are lucky to show what they are in Lanning’s presence. Yes, the Oregon Ducks’s head coach was in New York for the Heisman ceremony. He was there to root for their quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, who was the other contender in the Heisman race. That’s when things got interesting between the two head coaches. 

The tension between Deion Sanders and Dan Lanning reached a unique climax. They bumped into each other for the first time since Oregon’s dismantling of Colorado in their final Pac-12 matchup last season. Coach Prime described the meeting as “He couldn’t even look me in the eyes with the cameras turned away like a man.” Now that Oregon hit a nosedive in the Rose Bowl, Lanning might be looking for a place to hide his face.