Dan Lanning isn’t ready to dive deep into the College Football Playoff’s proposed move to 24 teams, but he’s clear on where he stands: he likes the direction.
On Wednesday, the Oregon coach addressed the expansion for the first time and said he sees value in a larger field for several reasons, including the financial side and the chance to reduce some of the late-season chaos.
“I really haven’t read much into it because I know it doesn’t affect us right now. But ultimately, I think I’ve been an advocate for it for multiple reasons. I think there’s a revenue gap that has replaced if championship games end up looking a little bit different,” Lanning said.
He also said he isn’t a big fan of the current bowl setup and would prefer high-ranked teams to host games.
“I think there’s still a lot of things that can be changed, too. I’m not a big proponent of bowl games.
I think teams with an advantage or high rankings should have home games, but ultimately, I think it’s a good thing. It’s going to allow a little less chaos at the end.”
Lanning added that the broader format would still leave room for drama, just not as much as before.
“There’ll still be chaos, but a little less chaos at the end of the season. I think we’ve recognized that there’s teams that are right on the cusp or right on the bubble that probably deserve the opportunity to play because they’re that caliber of team. And it’s changed over time, so ready to adapt with change,” Lanning continued.
For Oregon, the expansion conversation comes at a strange moment. If a 24-team playoff were in place this season, the Ducks would not be in it right now. They are unranked ahead of Saturday’s road trip to Illinois, a far cry from the preseason No. 2 spot they opened with.
The Ducks are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, and the season has not gone the way many expected. The concussion to starting quarterback Dante Moore has been a major factor, but the slide is still a tough one for Oregon fans to stomach.
Both of Oregon’s losses have been close - to No. 9 UCLA and Oklahoma State by a combined 10 points.
If the Ducks close strong, they could still make a case as one of the two-loss teams in a larger playoff field. They already have two top-25 wins on the slate against No.
16 USC and No. 21 Boise State, and more chances remain with No.
24 Northwestern on Oct. 31 and No. 3 Ohio State on Nov.
Before any of that, Oregon has to deal with Illinois.
The Ducks travel to Gies Memorial Stadium to face Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini, who are 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. Lanning made it clear Oregon is treating the matchup with respect.
“Coach Bielema always does a phenomenal job. They’ve obviously had this previous week to really prepare for us and get healthy. So, I know they’ve been looking at us for a little bit, and you feel like you’re behind a little bit when you start looking at a team like Illinois and the skill set they have,” Lanning said.
He pointed out that Illinois has battled injuries but still found ways to create big plays and make the most of the talent on hand.
“They’ve dealt with a lot of injuries this season, but they’ve done a good job of taking advantage of the personnel they do have and creating explosive plays. You immediately recognize what they’re able to do on offense.”
He also praised the way Illinois gets its playmakers involved.
“They have some playmakers and some weapons, and they do as good a job as anybody in football as far as getting their guys the ball and taking advantage of those weapons. What they do on offense is extremely unique,” Lanning continued.
Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. PT at Gies Memorial Stadium, with the game airing on the Big Ten Network. DraftKings Sportsbook lists Oregon as an 8.5-point favorite, though the line has continued to move down.
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