Dan Lanning, Oregon Receive Dire Warning Before USC Matchup

By Matthew Schmidt

Contributing Sports Writer

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For the most part, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks are sitting pretty right now. They are 9-1 and have won five games in a row, with their one loss coming against the Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 11. But they have a marquee matchup with the USC Trojans on tap for Saturday, and it could ultimately determine their College Football Playoff trajectory.

Currently, Oregon is seventh in the CFP rankings. USC comes in at 15th, so as of right now, the Trojans are on the outside looking in. But that could all change with a win at Eugene this weekend.

Read more: Wild CFP Scenario Unveiled for Arch Manning, Texas Longhorns

College football analyst Josh Pate goes as far to wonder if the Ducks could be cooked if they fall against USC.

“If USC wins this Saturday, is Oregon just knocked all the way out?" Pate questioned. "Can they resurrect their hopes by beating Washington the next week?”

Here's the problem with the Ducks: they don't really have an incredibly strong resume.

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Oregon's most impressive win of the year came at Iowa on Nov. 18, as the Ducks escaped with an 18-16 victory. Yes, Lanning's squad beat Penn State in double-overtime back on Sep. 27, but we see what has become of the Nittany Lions. That win is no longer that notable.

The clash against USC will surely tell us a whole lot about where Oregon stands right now. If the Ducks are able to come away with a win, then they can probably punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff. But if they lose? Suddenly, things will become very dicey for the club.

Oregon has gotten better each year under Lanning.

Read more: Colorado’s Deion Sanders Blasted by Multiple Big 12 Coaches, GMs

Lanning went 10-3 during his debut campaign in 2022, then followed that up with records of 12-2 and 13-1 in each of the next two seasons. The Ducks actually looked like the best team in the country for most of 2024 until they ran into an Ohio State buzzsaw in the Rose Bowl.

This Oregon team isn't quite as talented as the one we saw a year ago, but as with any Lanning-led squad, it remains a threat. But again, Saturday evening with serve as a great litmus test for the Ducks.

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