Dan Lanning didn’t bite when asked about Kyle Whittingham’s comments, but he made sure the Oregon coach’s answer still landed.
Whittingham, in his first season at Michigan, had praised Lanning’s recruiting work while also taking a swipe at Oregon’s financial edge. He said Monday that Lanning is “an outstanding football coach, defensive-minded coach; that’s his background, but a tireless recruiter,” before adding, “He really does a great job recruiting.
It doesn’t hurt that you have $50 million at your disposal to, in essence, to outbid everybody. Not everybody, but a lot of people.
But that’s not his fault. That’s a credit.
I mean, that’s a credit to their program and their dedication and desire to win and the support they have.”
Lanning was asked about it Wednesday and kept his response measured, even while pointing toward Michigan’s own spending priorities.
“I’ve got nothing to say to coach Whit other than I think he’s an unbelievable coach," Lanning said. "I get it.
They’re spending more of their money right now on their coaches that they’re letting go, so maybe it makes it hard to sign players. But I know they’ve signed a couple of guys that we weren’t able to compete with what they decided to do, and maybe a lot of that money is tied up for them in another player.
I don’t know. But coach Whittingham is an unbelievable coach.
He’s a Hall of Fame coach. I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
The exchange comes with Oregon and Michigan headed toward Saturday’s matchup at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks will be a double-digit favorite. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
PST on Nov. 14.
Oregon’s roster-building machine has been a major talking point under Lanning. The Ducks have signed top-10 classes in each full season with him and top-5 classes in the past three cycles. They also have one of the most expensive rosters in the country this season, with many estimates putting the total above $40 million.
That spending has helped fuel a roster that has steadied after a rough start and a wave of injuries. Oregon fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, then turned things around with ranked wins over Northwestern and Ohio State to push back into the playoff conversation.
Michigan’s season has gone in the opposite direction. The Wolverines have one of the worst offenses in the country, fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck after a stunning 15-6 home loss to rival Michigan State, and have faced criticism for Whittingham’s comments about his embrace of Michigan culture, including his line that there are “no more trophy games” on the schedule.
Whittingham and Lanning know each other well from their Pac-12 days, when Whittingham was at Utah. The respect appears to be there on both sides, but the remarks about Oregon’s recruiting budget - and the way Lanning answered them - are now part of the buildup to Saturday.
One of the players Whittingham’s program landed is quarterback Bryce Underwood, a five-star recruit reportedly receiving more than $3 million this season. Underwood was benched a month ago and has not had a role since, with Tommy Carr starting at quarterback.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A Problem Cleveland Can't Ignore
A defense that looked like a strength early in the season has started to wobble, and the Browns cant really brush it off anymore. Over the last three games, Cleveland has been giving up an average of 24.7 points and 167 rushing yards per game, a stretch that has helped turn recent losses into a much bigger concern for a team that expected its defense to set the tone.
Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg has stressed the need to address the issues directly, with the Browns trying to stay disciplined and physical against the run. The bigger question now is whether that message turns into a quick correction, because the early-season edge this unit carried has been harder to find lately, and the margin for error is shrinking fast. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Finally Punish A Texans Weakness Fans Need To See
The Texans defense has become a useful talking point for anyone trying to size up this matchup, and a recent question-and-answer exchange with Scott Barzilla of Battle Red Blog put a spotlight on exactly where Houston has been vulnerable. The conversation centered on the Texans secondary, their uneven play in close games and the way key pieces like Kamari Lassiter fit into a unit that has not always looked steady from week to week.
For Cleveland, that creates a clear opening in a game where the Browns are again entering as underdogs. If Houstons defensive back end continues to show cracks, it could give Cleveland a chance to lean into a weakness fans have been waiting to see exploited. The bigger question is whether the Browns can take advantage before the Texans defense settles in and changes the tone of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Faces A Browns Moment That Feels Bigger Than One Game
Deshaun Watson is set to step back into the lineup against the Houston Texans, the franchise where he spent his first five NFL seasons, and the timing gives this one a little extra weight for Cleveland. He returns with the Browns still trying to steady their season, while Watson comes in having played eight games and carrying the sort of uneven production that has defined much of his time in Cleveland so far.
The backdrop makes this more than just another midseason matchup. Watson is in the final year of his contract, the Browns need a win to improve their record, and the Texans have their own push to get closer to .500. For all the familiar faces and old storyline threads in this game, the larger question is what it means when Watson gets back on the field in a moment that feels bigger than one Sunday. [Read more 🡒]