# Oregon's discipline crisis threatens playoff dreams > After a shocking loss to Oklahoma State, the Ducks face a reckoning on penalties and focus. - Title: Oregon's discipline crisis threatens playoff dreams | Shortify - Summary: After a shocking loss to Oklahoma State, the Ducks face a reckoning on penalties and focus. Repeated penalties and mental lapses are costing Oregon games… - Keywords: oregon ducks, dan lanning, college football, discipline issues, penalties, oklahoma state, week 3, portland state, college football playoff, dante moore, autzen stadium, sports - Source: Oregon Ducks On SI — https://si.com/college/oregon/football/dan-lanning-gets-real-oregon-ducks-recent-discipline-struggles - Published: 2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: oregon ducks, dan lanning, college football, discipline issues, penalties, oklahoma state, week 3, portland state, college football playoff, dante moore, autzen stadium, sports ## Ducks stumble in week 2 Oregon entered the season as a national championship contender but lost 39-31 to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, dropping to 1-1 after also trailing Boise State by double digits in week 1. ## Penalties piling up Coach Dan Lanning identified repeated penalties as a major problem. Players are jumping offside in consecutive games and committing the same mistakes week after week. > When penalties hurt you one week and they hurt you the next week, I think that's an indicator that we're not resolving a problem. ## Focus and leadership lacking Lanning said the issue goes beyond individual mistakes. When the same player jumps offside twice, it signals a focus problem that the team hasn't resolved. > When our guy jumps offside in one game and then turns around and jumps offside in the next game, his level of focus isn't where it needs to be. ## Some penalties are coachable Lanning acknowledged that aggressive play happens and some penalties are flukes, like a facemask grab. But inexcusable mistakes like offside on fourth-and-1 after extensive practice time must stop. > But to have an offside on a fourth-and-1 when you spend extensive time on it. That's inexcusable. ## Freshman struggles in new environment A freshman jumping offside on short yardage in his first road game is understandable, but the team must overcome those circumstances to win games. ## Portland State offers reset Playing an FCS opponent this week gives Oregon a chance to regroup and fix discipline issues before facing ranked opponents like USC and Ohio State. ## Playoff hopes still alive Despite the 1-1 start, Oregon has the talent to reach the College Football Playoff and win its first national championship. Discipline and leadership are the keys. ## Lanning takes responsibility The coach said he hasn't coached well enough and knows he can do better. If he improves, the team will improve and could become very good. > I haven't coached them well enough. I haven't done a good enough job, so I know I can do better. ## Focus on today, not tomorrow Lanning urged the team to stop worrying about the end of the season and focus on playing well today. That's where improvement starts. > Let's stop worrying about tomorrow. Let's stop worrying about the end of the season. Let's worry about today. ## Tough road ahead After Portland State, Oregon faces ranked road matchups against number twelve USC on September twenty-sixth and number six Ohio State on November seventh. ## Friday night at Autzen Oregon and Portland State kick off Friday at seven thirty p.m. Pacific Time at Autzen Stadium, broadcast on the Big Ten Network. ## Team ready to respond Expect Oregon to come out focused and determined to play consistent football against the Vikings after two weeks of discipline struggles. ## Key takeaway Repeated penalties and mental lapses are costing Oregon games, and coach Dan Lanning says the fix starts with him.