2026 Big Ten Media Days Interview: Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning

Summary

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Cover 3 College Football

Episode: 2026 Big Ten Media Days Interview: Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning
Release Date: August 1, 2026
Guest: Dan Lanning, Head Coach, Oregon Ducks

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Cover 3 College Football podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning during the 2026 Big Ten Media Days. The hosts (Bud Elliott, Danny Kanell, Chip Patterson, et al.) explore Lanning’s philosophy on player retention, leadership transitions, breakout players, and Oregon's transition into the Big Ten. The episode also touches on the Ducks’ offseason international ambassador trip and finishes with a rapid-fire logo association game and the “Question Train” feature.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Player Retention and Team Culture

Timestamp: [04:00]

• The Oregon program stands out for its exceptional player retention despite a volatile transfer landscape.
• Dan Lanning: “If you’re staying somewhere, it means you feel like you’re being developed, you enjoy the people you work with, you feel like you have a chance to win and you’re taken care of. And I think our players feel that there at Oregon, they certainly enjoy it as much as we enjoy it.”

2. Defensive Line Depth and Returning Talent

Timestamp: [04:34]

• The Ducks’ defensive line is drawing national attention for its depth and strength.
• Lanning underlines the necessity of depth on the defensive line given today’s high snap counts.
• Dan Lanning: “Of all positions, that’s a group where you need, you need depth and you need people that can play winning football because you can’t go out and play 80 snaps with the same 4 D-linemen all game.”

3. Dante Moore’s Return & Leadership

Timestamp: [05:11]

• Star QB Dante Moore’s return to Oregon came as a welcome surprise to the college football world.
• Lanning describes the open and supportive conversations, stating he encouraged Moore to make the best decision for himself.
• Dan Lanning: “There’s some things you can’t buy back. He can never buy back the opportunity to play at Oregon one more year.”

4. Oregon’s Big Ten Era

Timestamp: [06:12]

• Lanning describes growing excitement among fans as the Ducks settle in as a Big Ten powerhouse.
• Dan Lanning: “I think everyone's probably starting to realize this is a pretty awesome thing we got going. It’s coast to coast, some unbelievable teams. It’s great traditions, some unbelievable venues, and the fact that we get to share it all in the Big Ten makes it really special.”

5. Evan Stewart’s Comeback

Timestamp: [06:25]

• Lanning lauds WR Evan Stewart’s offseason progress.
• Dan Lanning: “Man, Evan has had the best offseason I’ve seen from him since I’ve been there... Explosive power. He’s become a real vocal leader for our team.”

6. Coordinator Changes and Internal Promotions

Timestamp: [06:40]

• Both coordinators departed for head coaching jobs; Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton were promoted from within.
• Lanning expresses total confidence in the new leadership, highlighting their proven work ethic and connection with players.

7. Quarterback Room Depth

Timestamp: [07:13]

• Discussion on incoming and returning QBs, specifically Dillon and his recovery and competition among a talented group.
• Dan Lanning: “You want the ability to have great players... Dylan’s been a really special one for a long time in this league. His experience in the league is going to really pay off.”

8. Young Secondary Standouts

Timestamp: [07:57]

• After success shutting down Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Lanning names young secondary talent—especially Aaron Flowers—as ones to watch.

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Memorable Stories & Quotes

Japan Ambassador Trip

Timestamp: [08:41]

• The Ducks made an offseason ambassador trip to Tokyo, which included youth camps, coaching clinics, and cultural experiences.
• Lanning shares cultural anecdotes: “Not everybody was ready to eat the sushi... We had sashimi right from the fish. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t necessarily for everybody.” [09:17]

Big Ten Logo Word Association Game

Timestamp: [10:00–11:17]

• The hosts prompt Lanning for immediate reactions to Big Ten school logos:
  • On a rival: “I respect this team, but we want to beat them. We want to beat the dog out of them every time we get to play them.” [10:06]
  • On the Big House: “That was one of the venues when we came to the Big Ten that... I want to see this.” [11:07]
  • On visiting UCLA: “Hollywood. Right in it. Westwood.” [11:17]

‘Question Train’ – Coaches’ Round-robin Q&A

Timestamp: [11:44]

• Penn State’s Matt Campbell asks: “Are you still going to recruit Kansas City as aggressively?”
• Lanning’s answer: “Absolutely. You always recruit hometown. And when there’s a player that we feel like fits us, we want to make sure we go after him and get them.” [12:05]
• Lanning’s question for Ryan Day (Ohio State): If you had to coach against your own son, what would your mentality be?
• Lanning reflects on coaching and fatherhood: “There’s another world on the other side of this—it’s pretty neat.” [12:42]

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Notable Quotes

• On player retention and culture:

  • “If you’re staying somewhere, it means you feel like you’re being developed...you have a chance to win and you’re taken care of.”
    — Dan Lanning [04:19]

• On Dante Moore’s NFL draft decision:

  • “There’s some things that you can’t buy back. He can never buy back the opportunity to play at Oregon one more year.”
    — Dan Lanning [05:23]

• On the Big Ten move:

  • “It’s coast to coast, some unbelievable teams. It’s great traditions, some unbelievable venues, and the fact that we get to share it all in the Big Ten makes it really special.”
    — Dan Lanning [06:16]

• On recruiting and rivalry:

  • “You always recruit hometown...when there’s a player that we feel like fits us, we want to make sure we go after him and get them.”
    — Dan Lanning [12:05]

• On taking his team to Japan:

  • “Hopefully we can become, you know, Japan’s favorite team, and there’s a lot of people over there.”
    — Dan Lanning [08:48]

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Timeline & Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:20 | Dan Lanning joins the show | | 04:00 | Discussion of player retention and team culture | | 04:34 | Defensive line depth and talent | | 05:11 | Dante Moore’s return and decision process | | 06:12 | Oregon’s Big Ten integration and fan adaptation | | 06:25 | WR Evan Stewart’s comeback and leadership | | 06:40 | Promoting new coordinators; internal staff development | | 07:13 | Quarterback room and Dillon’s role | | 07:57 | Young secondary players and Orange Bowl performance | | 08:41 | Ambassador trip to Tokyo: insights, food stories, Ducks’ global brand | | 09:58-11:17| Big Ten logo word association game | | 11:44 | Coaches' "Question Train" (recruiting in Kansas City, father-son rivalry question for Day) | | 12:42 | Lanning’s reflection on coaching and family |

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a fast-paced, anecdote-rich conversation, balancing technical discussion (roster management, game prep, assistant promotions) with lighter, personal stories (Tokyo trip, sushi adventures), and unique media-day games. Lanning consistently credits his team’s success to an environment focused on development, leadership, and genuine player well-being—offering insight into why Oregon is thriving, retaining talent, and ready for increased national prominence in the Big Ten.

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Transcript

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[Host 2]

podcast here on CBS Sports Network. That's Bud Elliott, that's Danny Cannell, and

[Host 1]

that right there is Orego.

[Host 2]

Dan Lanning, Coach, thank you so much for entertaining our nonsense. Once again, joining us here on the COVID 3 podcast, getting us started here on day two at Big Ten media days. How are you doing today?

[Dan Lanning]

Doing great. Thanks for having me.

[Host 3]

So you thought he faked that excitement?

[Host 4]

He doesn't fake.

[Host 3]

He brings it every time.

[Dan Lanning]

I just before they said 3, 2, 1, he was kind of quiet.

[Host 2]

Gotta get charged up here. Okay. This is something that's been rattling around my skull over the last, like, two weeks. Okay. You have found something really, really special in Eugene. And whenever the coaching rumors came up, it goes back a couple years, the grass is damn green, right? What are the players getting?

[Host 1]

Because the thing that has been so

[Host 2]

impressive is the player retention. You know, coaches don't leave unless it is for a head coaching job. Players don't leave unless they're going to go get starting time that they can't get with the Ducks. What are the players buying into that has them wanting to stay in at

[Host 1]

a time when 50, 55, 60 new

[Host 2]

players is the trend across the country?

[Dan Lanning]

Yeah, I think they've been able to see some of the same things we see as coaches. You know, if you're staying somewhere, it means you feel like you're being developed, you enjoy the people you work with, you feel like you have a chance to win and you're taken care of. And I think our players feel that there at Oregon, they certainly enjoy it as much as we enjoy it.

[Host 4]

This offseason had to feel like an infomercial where it's like, but wait, there's more. Dante Moore's back, right? And the whole D line decided to come back and Evan Stewart's back and healthy. Like, is the D line getting to. I know you can't stack talent like you did, you know, pre portal, pre nil era Georgia. But is it getting to the point where, like, oh, this is kind of scary.

[Dan Lanning]

Not yet. No. No. I'll take as many as I can get. We have. We had a lot of them in Georgia. You know, I really, I love our D line. I'm really excited about the group. But of all positions, that's a Group where you need, you need depth and you need people that can play winning football because you can't go out and play 80 snaps with the same 4D lineman all game. So we have a really good group. There's going to be some young ones that get the opportunity to step up and make an impact as well.

[Host 3]

Dante coming back, Bud mentioned it. You know, the mock drafts were coming out. Everybody had one, two. He was right up at the top. And then I think the college football world was a little bit surprised that he decided to come back to Oregon. What were those conversations like in that decision making process?

[Dan Lanning]

There were a lot of them. I think it starts with me saying, hey, Dante, I want you to make the best decision for you. As selfish as I can be in this moment, I want you to do. And when you start to talk to, to him through his process and what it looked like, you realize this guy's going to make a great decision, whichever one it is. And there's a. He had the sounding board, but he had a lot of things that he wanted to accomplish. I think he realized that there's some things that you can't buy back. He can never buy back the opportunity to play at Oregon one more year. I think he recognized, you know, how Marcus Mariota, when he walks around that building, what it looks like. And I think he felt like, okay, I got the opportunity to grow. I can become an even better player than what I've been. So I'm excited to see that all come to fruition.

[Host 2]

You've traveled all over college football, so ushering in the Big Ten era for the Oregon football program, you might have been ready for it. Do you think the fans now are getting a little bit more used to life in the Big Ten?

[Dan Lanning]

I think everyone's probably starting to realize this is a pretty awesome thing we got going.

[Host 2]

Yeah, right.

[Dan Lanning]

It's. It's coast to coast, some unbelievable teams. It's great traditions, some unbelievable venues, and the fact that we get to share it all in the Big Ten makes it really special.

[Host 4]

What are you seeing from Evan now that he's back?

[Dan Lanning]

Man, Evan has had the best off season I've seen from him since I've been there.

[Host 2]

Let's go.

[Dan Lanning]

Explosive power. He's worked really, really hard. He's in great shape. He's become a real vocal leader for our team. He's done a really, really good job. So I'm excited to see the season.

[Host 3]

He has both coordinators leave to take head jobs, breaking in some new guys. What's that process been like, you know,

[Dan Lanning]

it's fun for me. We've had, you know, the two guys that we promoted, Drew Meringer and Chris Hampton, were both on our staff. So I've seen. Drew's been there with us since day one. Chris has been with us the last three years. You recognize early the talent that those guys have and the opportunity that they can create and what they can become. And they certainly, you know, it was easier decision for me seeing the way they work every single day and how our players respond to them, how they've done it, their position groups, for. For them to be in that role. So I'm really pumped for what they're going to bring to the table.

[Host 2]

What are you seeing from Dillon coming in? Because this is one of the best quarterback rooms in the entire country, in addition to having one of the best quarterbacks in the entire country injured at the end of last season. But it seems as he's done some really good work to get his body back to be fully healthy and ready to go. How has that addition been for the team?

[Dan Lanning]

Yeah, it's been awesome. You know, obviously, you. You want the ability to have great players on your team, and Dylan's been a really special one for a long time in this league. His experience in the league is going to really pay off. I think you got to see kind of the. The game plan laid out for him in advance with what Dante did while Dylan Gabriel was here the last year. But he's improved.

[Commercial Narrator]

He's.

[Dan Lanning]

He hasn't come here and said, okay, I'm a wait. He's come and said, okay, I'm going to work. And everybody else in that. In that group's working, too, right? So there's a lot of pressure to improve and continue to get better. And Dylan's done a good job of that.

[Host 4]

Everybody's excited about the D line, but I feel like, you know, y' all shut down Texas Tech with your secondary, obviously, down there in the Orange Bowl. Who are some of the young guys in that room we should know about?

[Dan Lanning]

Yeah, I think there's a few, right, that have really played well. Obviously, Aaron Flowers had a big role, if he had a big role, right? Like, each one of these guys, they all wear the hat. I mean, look at your Orange bowl mvp, right? I mean, these guys work so hard, day in, day out to go be the best version of themselves. And none of them really settled for it. You know, they continue to work and improve, so it's been fun to watch.

[Host 3]

One of my favorite things when I was in college was Road trips, right? Get with your boys. We'd go on a little road trip. We might go to Panama City. That was like an hour and a half drive from Tallahassee. We did not get to go to Tokyo.

[Dan Lanning]

Quite the road trip.

[Host 3]

Quite the road trip indeed. What was like. And was an ambassador trip like for you guys, for Oregon Ducks kind of showcase what you can do? What was that trip like?

[Dan Lanning]

Yeah, there's a lot of things tied into it. You know, one, the experience for our players, the opportunity to travel somewhere they haven't been and really just get the chance to experience a different culture, a new place. You know, hopefully we can become, you know, Japan's favorite team, and there's a lot of people over there. Then the opportunity to do a showcase over there, do a kids camp. We did a coaches clinic. The exposure. So really just in general, some things that I never, ever dreamed you get to experience. In college, our guys got the opportunity

[Host 2]

to experience any player stories and anything. Anybody get caught off guard.

[Dan Lanning]

Not everybody was ready to eat the sushi. I'll just say that they got some exotics. We went to a fish market, and they. They cut a tuna right in front of us. We had shashimi, like, right from the fish. And gosh, like I said, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't necessarily for everybody.

[Host 3]

Okay. They also got squid. They got octopus. I mean, there's.

[Dan Lanning]

Oh, yeah, there's some different exotic stuff.

[Host 2]

Yeah, that's. That's not exactly the grocery store sushi.

[Dan Lanning]

No, different. Yeah, a little different.

[Host 2]

So I did. I did hint that we might have had a little bit of nonsense for you.

[Host 1]

We're going to play a game.

[Host 2]

It is going to be. Was it like a roar track test?

[Host 5]

Almost.

[Host 1]

We're gonna have a wheel of logos,

[Host 2]

and the control room's gonna stop, and it's gonna be one Big Ten logo. We just want the first thing that comes to mind.

[Dan Lanning]

Here we go.

[Host 2]

We've got it on the screen right here.

[Dan Lanning]

Ah, eight.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Host 5]

Yeah.

[Dan Lanning]

What's funny is, I respect this team, but we want to beat them. We want to beat the dog out of them every time we get to play them. And they're a really, really tough opponent. Coach Fish does a great job, but, yeah, you got to say hey.

[Host 2]

Got to say hey.

[Host 4]

That's perfect. Dog at him. Pun intended. Yeah.

[Dan Lanning]

Oh, it goes again. Oh, yeah.

[Host 1]

All right.

[Dan Lanning]

Ah, champs. Champs. They want it, right? Unbelievable job by Coach Sig and his group. Obviously, we got to be on the brunt end of that last year, but they won it all. And A really good team last year.

[Host 2]

All right, let's keep it rolling.

[Dan Lanning]

Children's Hospital. I know that's two words.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Dan Lanning]

But that experience we got to play there last year. Legend and coach Ference and the job they do. But. But getting to be a part of that moment is. Is cool as it gets in college football.

[Host 2]

Harper knocker game, too.

[Dan Lanning]

Yeah. A little wet.

[Host 3]

That one beat them at theirs.

[Dan Lanning]

Two minute. Two minute drill. Yeah. I mean, big house, I guess.

[Host 3]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

Okay.

[Dan Lanning]

Big house. The first thought.

[Host 2]

Yeah.

[Dan Lanning]

I'm excited to see what Kyle does there. He's. I mean, he's obviously an unbelievable coach. It's a fun place. That was one of the venues when. When we came to the Big Ten that. I'm like, okay, I want to see this.

[Host 2]

Y' all had a great win there, too.

[Dan Lanning]

We did. Hollywood.

[Host 5]

Yeah.

[Dan Lanning]

Right in it.

[Host 2]

Yeah, Right there. Westwood. Okay.

[Dan Lanning]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

And the other. The other fun bit of frivolity that we have put into Big Ten mini days. This one's easy and this one's a little bit fun. We've had a.

[Host 1]

A question train.

[Host 2]

So every coach has asked a question to the next coach, and then they answer that one and then ask one to the next.

[Dan Lanning]

Who's before me?

[Host 2]

Your question's coming from Penn State coach Matt Campbell, who was our last one yesterday.

[Host 1]

He talked about the experience as an

[Host 2]

Iowa State's coach of having to deal with you in Kansas City. And so his question to Dan Lanning was, are you still going to recruit Kansas City as aggressively? And after you answer that, you have a question for Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

[Dan Lanning]

All right, There you go. Absolutely. You always recruit hometown.

[Host 2]

Hometown.

[Dan Lanning]

Always got to recruit the hometown. And when there's a player that we feel like fits us, we want to make sure we go after him and. And get them. But obviously, Iowa State always did a great job there. Coach Campbell did a great job there. All right, so now I got to ask a question, and you can make it hard. All right.

[Host 3]

I'm uncomfortable. Yeah.

[Dan Lanning]

So I think it has to tie into, you know, his son going to Northwestern. Like, what would this so describe your mentality that you would approach if you had to play your son as the quarterback at Northwestern and you're the head coach at Ohio State.

[Host 3]

That's great.

[Dan Lanning]

I love that. He said his wife Nina is going to be upset. We actually, it was really fun getting to visit with Coach Day this morning because, you know, we both. We coach ball. First thing he's talked about were his kids and his son, how excited his last summer together with his son. First thing I talked about was my boys. So there's another world on the other side of this is pretty neat. And got a lot of respect for coach Dan, the job he does.

[Host 2]

We've got a lot of respect for you and a lot of appreciation that you spent some time with us. Here he is, Dan Lanning, coach of the Oregon Ducks. Dan, thank you so much for spending some time with us here on the COVID 3 podcast.

[Dan Lanning]

Appreciate it. Thank you, guys.

[Host 2]

Coming up on the Other side, scheduled to be joined by Ohio State coach Ryan Day, Jeremiah Smith and more next.

[Host 5]

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