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The Oregon Ducks have done just about anything and everything you can do in the world of college football. Short of one thing.
And that one thing happens to be the most important of all.
While Dan Lanning and his team have won endless games, scored thousands of points, and landed a long list of blue-chip recruits over the years, they still have been unable to reach that ultimate goal of winning a national championship, which would be the first in program history. However, heading into the 2026 season, Lanning says that he feels that goal is as close as ever.
“We’re close,” Lanning told On3 at Big Ten media days. “I know Indiana’s an outlier and they’ve done an unbelievable job, but it takes time, man, to build something really special. I think of coaches in our era that have been able to have success and create success and win national championships. I don’t think Kirby Smart did it in his first four years. I don’t think Ryan Day did."
Smart won his first national championship in year six with the Georgia Bulldogs, and Day finally got a ring in year seven at Ohio State. Lanning is now entering year five with the Ducks, and thanks to some massive returners like Dante Moore, Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, and Evan Stewart, among many others, Oregon seems to be as close to a championship as they've ever been.
While the talent is there, it's going to be because of the culture created over the years at Oregon that this team will be able to win.
“It takes time," Lanning said. "It’s hard. It’s hard to build. There’s, what, four active coaches that have won national championships? We’re close. We got to win the last one. We got to play better, and certainly there’s no excuses from us. We just got to continue to improve.”
There's room to improve, and a lot to prove this year for the Ducks. If they can continue to build on what they've done the year before, there's no reason Oregon can't be in that title picture once again this season.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 'We're close;' Dan Lanning breaks down Oregon's championship outlook
Continue reading...
And that one thing happens to be the most important of all.
While Dan Lanning and his team have won endless games, scored thousands of points, and landed a long list of blue-chip recruits over the years, they still have been unable to reach that ultimate goal of winning a national championship, which would be the first in program history. However, heading into the 2026 season, Lanning says that he feels that goal is as close as ever.
“We’re close,” Lanning told On3 at Big Ten media days. “I know Indiana’s an outlier and they’ve done an unbelievable job, but it takes time, man, to build something really special. I think of coaches in our era that have been able to have success and create success and win national championships. I don’t think Kirby Smart did it in his first four years. I don’t think Ryan Day did."
Smart won his first national championship in year six with the Georgia Bulldogs, and Day finally got a ring in year seven at Ohio State. Lanning is now entering year five with the Ducks, and thanks to some massive returners like Dante Moore, Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, and Evan Stewart, among many others, Oregon seems to be as close to a championship as they've ever been.
While the talent is there, it's going to be because of the culture created over the years at Oregon that this team will be able to win.
“It takes time," Lanning said. "It’s hard. It’s hard to build. There’s, what, four active coaches that have won national championships? We’re close. We got to win the last one. We got to play better, and certainly there’s no excuses from us. We just got to continue to improve.”
There's room to improve, and a lot to prove this year for the Ducks. If they can continue to build on what they've done the year before, there's no reason Oregon can't be in that title picture once again this season.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 'We're close;' Dan Lanning breaks down Oregon's championship outlook
Continue reading...
