Dan Lanning Lets Ducks Fans Breathe Before Excitement Of Playoff Run
By SPENCER McLAUGHLIN
Contributor, 750 The Game
Dan Lanning needed that one, didn’t he?
The Ducks completely dominated Washington, particularly in the second half, to the tune of a 49-21 victory on Senior Day. Oregon’s defensive line tied a program record with 10 sacks, ran for over 200 yards on offense, and made a dual statement to the Ducks’ fanbase in the process.
Let’s start with the rivalry factor. I wrote last week about how everything favored Oregon in this game. On paper, and on the field, every position group is advantage to the Ducks in the talent department. Nowhere was that more true than in the trenches. Freshman QB Demond Williams might have a bright future for the Huskies behind center, and was an impressive 17/20 throwing the ball for 201 yards and a touchdown. He was under constant duress by Oregon’s defensive front, while commanding an offense that managed just 43 yards on the ground.
This was the sort of performance Oregon fans were looking for. After 3 straight gut-wrenching losses to the Huskies, Duck fans were looking for more than just a win. They were seeking something to rub in the faces of their Husky counterparts for the next 365 days until they meet again in Seattle.
Mission accomplished.
Then there’s the other, arguably more important, reason that Oregon fans should feel great about what they saw on Saturday. No, not the pair of 2026 blue-chip high school prospects that committed to the Ducks as rumors circulate about flipping a 5-star TE in the 2025 class. Those things are the icing, not the cake.
For the first time in 4 games, Oregon ran for over 200 yards on the ground. The last time that happened was a month ago against Illinois. The running game hasn’t been neutralized in the games since then, but it has not been able to carry Oregon’s offense down the field. If that had continued against a Husky defense that came in ranked 14th in the Big 10 in rushing defense, that would have been a concern coming off a bye at home.
Instead the Ducks established the ground game early, capping off a 9-play opening drive with a 9-yard rushing TD from Noah Whittington. They ran it 6 times on a 71-yard scoring drive that was exactly what you should expect for a first drive at home off of a bye week.
Oregon established the ground game early and stuck with it, averaging 6.6 yards per carry to the tune of 222 yards running the ball, their 3rd-highest total of the year. That allowed Dillon Gabriel to be where I think he’s best, commanding an offense that requires him to be great every so often but fundamentally just needs him to distribute the ball to Oregon’s array of weapons.
Terrance Ferguson and Tez Johnson caught touchdowns. Traeshon Holden led the team in receiving yards as Gabriel threw for 209 through the air. His Heisman hopes are done with Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty ahead of him, but a Dan Lanning quote comes to mind:
Who cares?
The Ducks are the lone unbeaten in all of college football, and are favored by 3.5 points as they head into the B1G Championship game against…PENN STATE?!
I can’t believe we aren’t getting the Ducks-Buckeyes rematch. I’m still trying to wrap my head around Ryan Day’s choke job against Michigan. It makes Oregon’s 12-0 record and rivalry dominance look just that much better, doesn’t it?
Lastly, let’s give credit to Oregon’s offensive line. They were again without starting guard Marcus Harper, but they controlled the game just as much as the defensive line did. Dillon Gabriel wasn’t sacked, and Washington didn’t record a single tackle behind the line of scrimmage if you don’t count kneel downs.
Play like that in the postseason games Oregon will play, and a special season could very well be in the works.
Spencer McLaughlin is an Oregon Ducks football contributor to 750 The Game. He also hosts the “Locked On Oregon Ducks” and “Locked On College Football” podcasts and has work featured throughout the season here.