Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks have had plenty of regular-season success, but a lot of folks would say they’ve struggled when it really matters most. Since taking over in 2021, Lanning’s racked up a solid 36-5 record, but his latest coaching ranking came as a bit of a surprise.
According to Sporting News, Lanning just missed the top-five.
He came in at No. 7 overall, behind Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Three of those names—Swinney, Day, and Smart—have won national championships. No arguments there.
But outside of that top three? That’s where Lanning might feel a little underappreciated.
“Lanning, 39, led Oregon to a Big Ten championship in its first year in the conference,” Bill Bender, Sporting News Senior Writer wrote. “He has an .854 winning percentage and a hyper-aggressive style that has been a hit the last three seasons. Lanning is 4-4 against top-10 teams, and Oregon is built for sustained success. The flop in the Rose Bowl – 41-21 loss to Ohio State – was the only blemish last season. Five of the six coaches ahead of Lanning on this list have played for the CFP championship. That's the next step.”
Sure, Lanning hasn’t coached in a national title game—yet—but neither have the three names directly ahead of him.
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What Marcus Freeman is building at Notre Dame is impressive. The Irish have steadily climbed on the recruiting trail, and they reached the national championship game last season before falling to Ohio State. There’s a strong case for Freeman cracking the top five.
But after him? That’s where things get murky.
Take Kalen DeBoer. He had a breakout season at Washington in 2023, leading the Huskies to the national championship game.
But his move to Alabama hasn’t gone as smoothly.
He stepped into the toughest job in college football—replacing Nick Saban—and the Crimson Tide slipped to 9-4, missing the College Football Playoff. They also lost the ReliaQuest Bowl to a Michigan team that had one of its weakest seasons in recent memory.
Meanwhile, Lanning has won two bowl games in three years at Oregon, with his only loss coming to the reigning national champs, Ohio State, in the Rose Bowl.
Then there’s Steve Sarkisian. He’s done a solid job at Texas, going 38-17 and stacking three straight top-six recruiting classes—including the No. 1 class in 2025.
But Lanning’s only been in Eugene for four seasons, and his rebuild is ahead of schedule. The Ducks have landed back-to-back top-four recruiting classes and currently sit at No. 9 for 2026, per 247Sports.
So while Lanning may not have the championship resume just yet, he’s built a powerhouse in Oregon. And if the momentum continues, it won’t be long before he’s not just knocking on the door of the top five—he’s kicking it in.