Well, Dan Lanning isn’t just making noise—he’s cranking the volume to full blast. At 38, he has Oregon performing exceptionally well with a record of 35-6, a B1G title, and a flawless 13-0 start in the conference. The Ducks even reached the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2012. On the other hand, Sherrone Moore has been dominating, boasting four consecutive victories over Ohio State and a significant bowl win against Bama. But just as both teams seem stronger, Josh Pate points out a harsh truth—the quarterback depth may be a vulnerability in their strategy, and he is not mincing words about it.

In 2025, Michigan will have numerous storylines, yet the Bryce Underwood saga is unparalleled. Poor quarterback play ruined the Wolverines’ 2024 season, so they made a huge move to recruit a talented player. The key question is—how rapidly will Underwood seize control? The quarterback battle between him and Mikey Keene is heating up; even Josh Pate is taking notice. As he puts it—“You got Mikey Keene there, so the floor is fairly high, but the ceiling being as tall as it is because you’ve got Bryce Underwood—number one player in the country, true freshman.” 

Now, it’s a fight between experience and potential. Mikey’s record of 2,892 yards, 18 TDs, 11 interceptions, and a completion rate of 70.5% playing in CFB gives him an edge. But then Bryce Underwood’s raw talent leading Belleville to a 10-2 record and state regional semifinals, throwing for 2,509 yards with 32 TDs, 6 interceptions, and a 71.8% completion rate, shows the potential he poses. But the talent is still unproven.

And here comes the concerning part, as Josh Pate says, “But they’re replacing a lot of defensive line production, had no real production at wide receiver last year, so that’s a couple of the things that I’ll watch at Michigan. That quarterback thing—that’s going to be one of the stories of college football.” Who’s going to start this season is still unknown, but the fact that Michigan’s team has massive potholes is a straight fact. Last season, the Wolverines just had 63% (47th) of their production back on offense and 64% (28th) on defense. Plus, none of their wide receivers managed to catch more than 30 passes or rack up over 250 receiving yards last season.

So, that’s something Michigan can’t let happen this season. Then Josh Pate lands a reality check to Dan Lanning’s team, saying, “And at Oregon, you know how for a long time with the power programs out there, you’ve gotten yourself into the habit of saying, “Oh, they don’t rebuild; they just reload?”? Is Oregon there? They think they are. I kind of think they are. This is where we’re going to start to find out. They are not in the top 100s in returning production on either offense or defense, but they’ve got players all over the place—just kind of unproven.” That’s pretty ironic.

Look, it’s evident that Oregon’s strong 2024 roster saw 12 players head to the NFL Combine. While not all may be drafted, most are likely to be. However, this success comes with a downside—only 41% of last season’s production is set to return in 2025, placing the Ducks at 109th nationally. This puts them behind teams like App State and Kent State, with the Big Ten average at 56.2%. On the other hand, Clemson (81%) and Arizona State (79%) are leading the nation in returning production.

And here’s the kicker. Even their QB depth sounds alarming, as Josh Pate says, “Dante Moore is starting at quarterback for them. I think a lot of him. I think a lot of his potential. There are a lot of names that I think a lot of; they just have to prove it there.” Now, there’s no doubt that Dante Moore is a talented player with two state titles and an appearance in the state championship game. But it’s evident that his talent is yet to be proven on the field. Now let’s just hope after a hefty contract extension, Dan Lanning puts up a strong team this season.

Dan Lanning’s hefty contract extension

Lanning has just secured a contract extension, increasing his salary by $2 million to nearly $11 million per year, pending board approval. The six-year, $66 million deal maintains his buyout at $20 million to prevent anyone from poaching him. While some question the move, wondering about the purpose of such a massive deal. Their recent history in Oregon holds the answer.

As J.D. PicKell broke down the whole point of this $66M contract and why Oregon made the right call. “I would remind you, the year before, A&M—he shuts that down. I don’t know if that was actually anything that was real, but he just says, ‘I’m not taking the A&M job.’ Alabama doesn’t allow that to have any legs either when that job becomes available when Nick Saban retires,” said PicKell. Look, there’s no one bidding on Dan Lanning, but Oregon still wouldn’t let their guy go. And let’s not forget there was speculation last season that Lanning might make a move to the NFL, and that’s enough for the Ducks to open their pockets.

Look, Dan Lanning’s contract extension with Oregon isn’t merely about keeping him; it’s a statement that Oregon aims to be a destination program, not a temporary stop. For years, renowned figures have transited through Eugene, achieved success, and then left for what they perceive as superior positions. And that’s exactly what J.D. PicKell is highlighting: “And the reason why I think this was a good move by Oregon is—how many times have you been the bridesmaid, not the bride? How many times have you been in what people would label a stepping-stone job? And this is not to attack Oregon. This is just, like, the track record.” That’s a straight fact.

Mario Cristobal excelled at Oregon before leaving for Miami, his hometown. Willie Taggart departed for Florida State, while Chip Kelly moved to the NFL. PicKell highlighted that Oregon had been stuck in this cycle for too long. The program has now closed that door and is avoiding any risks. However, with Josh Pete’s recent disclosure, it appears that Dan Lanning’s team must enhance their presence.