Dan Lanning Calls Out College Football Playoff Format Ahead of Oregon’s Clash with Texas Tech
As Oregon gears up for its Orange Bowl showdown against Texas Tech, head coach Dan Lanning isn’t just focused on game prep-he’s also voicing frustration with how the College Football Playoff is structured. And he’s not mincing words.
“The way we do playoffs in college football is messed up,” Lanning said bluntly on Monday.
Oregon, the No. 5 seed, advanced to the quarterfinals after playing in the first round, while No. 4 Texas Tech earned a bye. That setup has Lanning questioning the fairness-and the rhythm-of the postseason format, especially with the Ducks now facing a team that’s had extra rest.
“We’re really excited to be going to the Orange Bowl, but this game should be played at Texas Tech,” Lanning said. “They’re the higher-seeded team.”
It’s a statement that cuts to the heart of one of the playoff’s biggest debates: Should higher seeds get true home-field advantage? Lanning thinks so. And he’s also pushing for a more consistent schedule-one that mimics the weekly rhythm of the regular season.
“The next playoff game should be the next Saturday. Then the next Saturday.
Then the championship game,” Lanning said, emphasizing the need for continuity. “But we’re trying to fit a lot of things in different sequence.”
This isn’t the first time Lanning has weighed in on the playoff structure. A year ago, ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game, he spoke positively about the benefits of securing a first-round bye. But after Oregon dropped a Rose Bowl matchup to Ohio State following a 25-day layoff, his perspective shifted.
That long break, Lanning now believes, disrupted the team’s rhythm. And he’s made adjustments this time around.
Instead of taking time off around Christmas like last year, Oregon gave players a break earlier in the month. Families will now visit Eugene for the holidays, keeping players close to home and locked into their preparation schedule before heading to the Orange Bowl.
“There’s definitely a skill and art to making sure that your team is prepared when you have long breaks,” Lanning said. “That was clear last year.”
The Ducks have been working to build consistency into their postseason routine-something that’s easier said than done with the current playoff calendar. Lanning pointed out that the spacing between games doesn’t follow a logical pattern, which makes it tough to maintain momentum.
“There’s not really a rhythm,” he said. “For us as a coach, it’s about how do you create that rhythm?
How do you challenge yourself to say, ‘OK, how can we keep things the same as much as possible for our players?’ It’s tough when you’ve got big gaps and big breaks like that.”
Meanwhile, Texas Tech is approaching the break differently. Head coach Joey McGuire said most of his players-many of whom live in-state-will go home for Christmas and return to Lubbock afterward.
“That was kind of the reward of winning the Big 12 and getting a bye,” McGuire said.
That bye week has become a focal point in the playoff discussion. Last year, all four teams that received first-round byes were knocked out in the quarterfinals. Whether that trend continues this year could influence how the playoff evolves-or at least how coaches approach postseason preparation.
“I don’t know that it’s a decided advantage for one team or the other,” Lanning said. “You’re dealing with different issues.”
What’s clear is that both teams come into the Orange Bowl with identical 12-1 records and something to prove. But while the scoreboard will ultimately settle the on-field debate, Lanning’s comments point to a larger conversation that’s just beginning: What’s the best way to crown a champion in a sport that thrives on rhythm, routine, and momentum?
For now, Oregon will try to find its groove after a first-round win. Texas Tech will look to keep its edge after a few extra days off.
And the rest of us? We’ll be watching closely-not just to see who wins, but to see whether the playoff format itself is due for a rethink.