Nick Saban, Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Comparisons Shut Down By College Football Analyst

Popular college football analyst Josh Pate spoke on his podcast about the Oregon Ducks and coach Dan Lanning's ability to win big games after the disappointing loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. Pate pointed to Lanning's young age in defense of the lofty expectations around the Oregon coach.

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning speaks in a press conference after the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After the Oregon Ducks lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Rose Bowl Game that was never close, criticisms arose about Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his ability to win big games, including a potential national championship with the Ducks.

On "Josh Pate's College Football Show," CBS Sports' Josh Pate answered a question about Lanning and if he can lead Oregon to the top spot.

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning speaks in a press conference after the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

"Dan Lanning, 'I don't know that he's ready to seize the top dog spot in the industry.' Well, he's not ready," said Pate. "He's ready to be the head coach at Oregon. He's ready to learn on the fly, just like everyone else has done, but, you know, it's not the biggest indictment in the world to tell me a 38-year old dude who had never had head coaching experience before Oregon lands at Oregon and and a few years in, he's not the best in the country. Well, the sport wouldn't be worth a whole heck of a lot if it were that easy to ascend to the top dog spot."

In three seasons as a head coach, Lanning is 35-6 with the Ducks. His record has improved each season, from three losses in 2022 to an undefeated season and 13 wins before the loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Still, in Oregon's first year as members of the Big Ten, Lanning and the Ducks won the Big Ten Championship over Penn State.

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After the disappointing loss to the Buckeyes, Lanning took accountability for the lopsided result.

"I didn't get our team prepared, and that's a great team. When you play a great team like Ohio State, you can't not be clicking on all cylinders. And they were, they were clicking on all cylinders," said Lanning. "We didn't really have the ability to stop them and the ability to get something going for us on offense. And we haven't faced a lot of moments like that this year."

Lanning's 2024 team was led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wide receiver Tez Johnson, and offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. On the other side of the ball, the defensive line was anchored by Jordan Burch, Derrick Harmon, and Matayo Uiagalelei. The Ducks coach has shown an ability to sign talented players out of the transfer portal and high school ranks.

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Tez Johnson (15) runs against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Oregon's 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 4 according to the On3 Industry Rankings, featuring five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore, five-star safety Trey McNutt, and five-star cornerback Na'eem Offord.

While Lanning has proven the ability to recruit, Pate argues that Lanning's age puts him at a disadvantage when it comes to leading a program.

"Do you realize Lanning could coach another 13 years and he'd still be younger than Nick Saban was when he won his first title, out of seven. It's a little warped, is my suggestion. What Saban did kind of ruined the mechanism for everyone, cause everyone holds their head coach to that standard, which is insane. But it also completely ignores the context of how older you had to be in the past before you got a major job," Pate said.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks off the field as the Oregon Ducks face the Ohio State Buckeyes Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in the quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Ducks hired Lanning when he was 35 years old, and he has improved in every season as a head coach. Before coming to Eugene, Lanning worked under coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs for three years as co-defensive coordinator.

Lanning is certainly qualified for the job, and the lofty expectations for him at Oregon are evidence of his program's ability to consistently compete at a high level.

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