# Oregon's stumble doesn't spell doom for Dan Lanning > After losses to Boise State and Oklahoma State, the Ducks still have time to salvage their season and College Football Playoff hopes. - Title: Oregon's stumble doesn't spell doom for Dan Lanning | Shortify - Summary: After losses to Boise State and Oklahoma State, the Ducks still have time to salvage their season and College Football Playoff hopes. One early loss no… - Keywords: oregon ducks, dan lanning, college football, 2026 season, oklahoma state upset, dante moore, college football playoff, usc trojans, ohio state, early season struggles, sports, Oregon's - Source: Oregon Ducks On SI — https://si.com/college/oregon/football/oregon-ducks-dan-lanning-three-reasons-why-sky-isnt-falling - Published: 2026-09-16T01:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: oregon ducks, dan lanning, college football, 2026 season, oklahoma state upset, dante moore, college football playoff, usc trojans, ohio state, early season struggles, sports ## Oregon's unexpected early stumble The No. 21 Ducks entered the season with elite expectations but lost to Boise State at home and then fell to Oklahoma State as 24.5-point favorites in week two. ## Weather delay and early kickoff complications Oregon dealt with an early kickoff on the road and a 90-minute weather delay after warm-ups, adding context to the loss but not excusing it. ## Questions about new coordinators Hiring offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton from within raised questions, especially Mehringer's appointment, which Ducks fans heavily debated. ## Offense averaging 32.5 points per game Despite looking out of sync and struggling in the run game, Oregon's offense has scored 32.5 points per game through two weeks. ## Defense giving up 33 points per game Chris Hampton's defense has allowed 33 points per game in two games, well above the threshold needed to stay in playoff contention. ## Key injuries to offensive line Tight end Jamari Johnson and offensive lineman Trent Ferguson suffered injuries, with Ferguson's being season-ending, leaving the already-thin offensive line with less depth. ## Offensive line lost three starters to NFL Oregon replaced three starting offensive linemen who left for the NFL, and now faces even less margin for error while figuring out combinations during the season. ## Portland State offers early reset Oregon faces Portland State on Friday night in week three as a 57.5-point favorite, one of the largest spreads in the country, offering a chance to refocus. ## USC test looms in week four The real measuring stick comes in week four when Oregon travels to face No. 12 USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in prime time. ## Trojans have strong young talent USC features quarterback Jayden Maiava and talented true freshmen receivers Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, plus tight end Mark Bowman. ## USC defense allowing just 18.7 points Under defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, USC has allowed only 18.7 points per game through three games, presenting a stiff defensive challenge. ## Players-only meeting after loss The Ducks held a players-only meeting after the Oklahoma State loss to communicate and get on the same page without screaming. > The player-led meeting was great. I feel like every team needs it. Just to communicate, debrief, talk about the thoughts everybody's having in their heads. ## Dante Moore on team unity Quarterback Dante Moore said the meeting helped the team get on the same page and that the communication carried over into practice. > And I feel that what we said in that meeting helped carry over into this week, and we've been attacking it every day. ## One loss no longer eliminates teams The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff means one loss doesn't end playoff hopes, though the margin for error shrinks with multiple losses. ## Miami reached title game with two losses After the 2025 season, Miami reached the national championship game with two losses, while Alabama and Oklahoma made the 12-team field despite multiple losses. ## Two-loss bubble is firmly set Teams like Notre Dame, BYU, and Vanderbilt all had two losses and missed the postseason, showing the bubble is set at two losses depending on conference performance. ## Lanning takes responsibility Coach Dan Lanning said he hasn't coached well enough and knows he can do better, emphasizing that if he improves, the team will improve. > We have the capability to be good. We have good enough players. We have good enough coaches. I haven't coached them well enough. ## Focus on today, not tomorrow Lanning urged the team to stop worrying about the end of the season and focus on today, saying 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. ## Season doesn't end in September Oregon has time to grow before facing Ohio State and other tough opponents, and the response against USC will be telling but not final. ## Key takeaway One early loss no longer eliminates a team from playoff contention, and Oregon's difficult schedule ahead offers chances to prove itself.