“We didn’t have the ability to stop them, and we didn’t have the ability to get something going on offense. We haven’t faced a lot of moments like that this season. They were clicking on all cylinders.” These were the words of Dan Lanning after facing a devastating defeat in the CFP Quarterfinal. His eyes were barely holding back tears, a slight tremble in his voice, and waiting to get done with the ordeal.

His despair was fully justified, too. But not because his players failed to perform or he didn’t do enough on the day. The thing was that it just wasn’t his day. He came to the quarterfinal being undefeated after slaying powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio State. It was a tragic story for every football fan (even for the neutrals), a story it seems he is out to rectify the next season.

Spencer McLaughlin, who runs the ‘Locked on Ducks’ podcast, has an interesting idea for Dan Lanning to implement. “Let’s say you lose at Penn State, and let’s say Indiana comes into odds-on and sneaks one out, and you have an off day, and you go 10-22 and miss the Big 10 championship game and make the playoff. I wouldn’t look at that as a failure; I’d look at that as apparently the better path to winning a national championship.” While Spencer’s comments may look a bit wild since winning the Big Ten would also be a big agenda for the Ducks. But wait till you hear the reasoning behind it.

Well, it would be no secret now that Oregon’s schedule for the 2025 season is out. That will see them facing some tough games on the road against Penn State and Washington. Furthermore, their home encounters at Autzen Stadium will see them hosting teams like Indiana and Wisconsin. Overall, their schedule is quite winnable and easy compared to last season. So, even if they can finish their regular season at 10-2 and miss the Big 10 championship game. Still, it will see them into the 12-team playoff without earning a bye week. And that may well ensure their 2025 season natty title. And here is why.

This is because all the teams that earned a bye week into the playoffs were ultimately eliminated. And those teams also included Oregon and some powerhouses like Georgia Bulldogs and Arizona State. Maybe the elimination had to do with factors like complacency or decreased game sharpness. Whatever it may be, it played a factor in the elimination of those bye-week teams. And, if you believe even slightly in luck, then it may well play out as per the wishes of Oregon’s fans. But then another question comes up: how will the team actually prepare for the same? Well, let’s see the ‘how’ behind our reasoning.

Does Dan Lanning’s 2025 season have some dark clouds?

Dan Lanning has actually been doing a phenomenal job with the Oregon Ducks. Many would go as far as to argue that he is the best in the business currently in college football. Considering Kirby Smart doesn’t take any offense, he may well actually be. Just watch his games against Ohio State and Michigan in the regular season, and you will know. Lanning consistently outperformed his opponents in a schedule that could be regarded as one of the most challenging in their history. They defeated Penn State with a score of 45-37, Washington with a score of 49-21, Michigan with a score of 38-17, and the formidable Ohio State in a thrilling 32-31 game. But can he sustain his success in 2025?

Well, it is not easy to match the standards of the 2024 season for Lanning. But since they have a relatively easy schedule, we may well see a 12-0 finish. However, Spencer Mclaughlin has some reservations about them: “I don’t want to legitimately talk myself into putting a national championship expectation on this 2025 team. Even in the context of a Big 10 Championship, I don’t have the expectation. The only expectation I have for Oregon year in and year out is a baseline standard of success, 10 wins to make the playoff—that’s a successful season.” And, while his reservations about Oregon not making it to the Big 10 Championship may stem from the skepticism of the Bye Week. Why did he even write off the natty final for them?

Well, Dan Lanning has a lot on his plate now after his ace QB Dillon Gabriel ran out of eligibility and headed to the NFL. So, he will be without a player who recorded a stellar 72.9% pass completion rate for 3,857 yards and was the architect behind Lanning’s season. Furthermore, most of their defense is running out of eligibility, which includes edge rusher Jordan Buch, cornerbacks Jabbar Muhammad and Nikko Reed, and several others heading to the NFL draft. Lanning’s key receivers, Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden, are also headed out. However, with Oregon’s 2025 class ranked 2nd overall in the country, they may be able to cope with the ominous predictions.