Dan Lanning's Job Security Called Into Question After Oregon's Upset Loss

Sports admin September 12, 2026 0 Comments

Dan Lanning’s Job Security Called Into Question After Oregon’s Upset Loss

Oregon’s national semifinal loss to Indiana in the Peach Bowl earlier this year might have been head coach Dan Lanning’s most embarrassing loss ever. Until today.

In one of the most stunning upsets of the young college football season, the No. 6 Oregon Ducks went to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys – a team that was riding a 12-game losing streak and were 24-point home underdogs. But in a stunning turn of events, Oregon lost to Oklahoma State, falling 39-31.

Oregon’s defense, which many have touted as elite, gave up the lead early in the second quarter and didn’t get it back until early in the fourth – at which point they could only hold on for about four minutes before the Cowboys reeled off a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a touchdown. They later added a field goal. Oregon tried to rally but failed.

Lanning on the hot seat?

Oregon coach Dan Lanning has often been admonished for his team not quite showing up to some of the team’s biggest games. The biggest examples are the 2024-25 Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State and their two losses to Indiana last year.

But this loss was the most embarrassing by far. Fans really let Lanning have it on social media during and after the game:

“I’ve been a pretty staunch defender of Dan Lanning and his decisions during his time at Oregon. This loss starts with him. Very questionable decisions. Team simply wasn’t prepared. Worst loss of his career, hands down. Will be interesting how they respond in 2 weeks vs. USC,” one user wrote on X.

“There are a lot of people to blame on this loss but Dan Lanning is A1. That fourth down call was unconscionable. Coaching malpractice,” wrote another.

“Serious question. Has anyone in CFB done less with more than Dan Lanning at Oregon? Inherited a 10-win team, has all the resources, facilities, and recruiting success you could ask for, and just never gets it done,” a third remarked.

“If you don’t think this falls on Dan Lanning, you’ve got the green-and-yellow-tinted glasses on.”

In the interim, Oregon’s AP ranking is going to plummet. The team has barely spent a day outside the top-10 since 2023. That streak is likely to end early next week.

They’re enormously lucky that they aren’t 0-2 right now after last week’s scare against Boise State.

The Ducks play Portland State at home next Friday in a game that should be far less difficult than Oklahoma State. After that, it’s pretty hard to say which direction the Ducks will trend.

This story was originally published September 12, 2026 at 5:40 PM.