Dan Lanning isn’t one to hold back, and ahead of Oregon’s College Football Playoff showdown, the Ducks' head coach is making his voice heard - this time about the playoff calendar. And honestly, he’s got a point.
With No. 5 Oregon (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten) set to face No.
4 Texas Tech (12-1, 8-1 Big 12) in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal on Thursday at noon ET, Lanning took a moment to air his frustrations with the current CFP schedule - specifically, how drawn-out it is. The playoff stretch kicks off two weeks after conference championship weekend and doesn’t wrap until mid-January.
“Every playoff game should be played every single weekend until you finish the season,” Lanning told reporters. “Even if that means we start Week 0 or you eliminate a bye, the season ends Jan. 1.”
That’s a bold statement, but it’s rooted in logic. Under the current format, the playoff drags on for over a month, with long gaps between rounds.
And by the time the national title game rolls around on January 19, the NFL playoffs are in full swing, dominating headlines and fan attention. College football, once the centerpiece of New Year’s sports, becomes a bit player.
Lanning’s vision? A streamlined playoff that runs back-to-back weekends, wrapping up by New Year’s Day - the way it used to feel when bowl season meant something more than just scattered matchups and opt-outs. To make that work, teams would likely need to start the season in Week 0 - the fourth Saturday in August - allowing enough room for a 12-game regular season, conference championships, and three rounds of playoff action.
And yes, that would mean giving up some flexibility, possibly even sacrificing Christmas weekend some years. But Lanning’s argument is that Saturdays in December should belong to college football - not the NFL.
“We do a lot of favors for the NFL,” Lanning said. “Saturday should be sacred for college football, and every Saturday in December should belong to college football.”
He’s not wrong. The NFL, thanks to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, has the green light to schedule Saturday games starting mid-December.
That overlap has become more noticeable in recent years, with pro football creeping into December Saturdays and siphoning off viewers. College football leaders may not be able to change federal law, but they can certainly rethink how they structure their own postseason.
And there’s more than just fan attention at stake. A tighter playoff schedule would also better align with the sport’s other major offseason domino - the transfer portal.
In 2026, the portal opens on Jan. 2.
That means players from teams still alive in the playoff will be making major decisions while still trying to win a national title. Wrapping the season by Jan. 1 would help players, coaches, and programs navigate that transition with more clarity.
If Lanning had his way, we’d already be talking about the national championship matchup this week - not just the quarterfinals. Instead, we’re only just getting into the thick of the playoff, with three rounds still to go and nearly three weeks to wait for the finale.
There are plenty of issues in college football - from NIL to conference realignment - but the playoff schedule is one that’s ripe for a fix. Lanning’s call to tighten things up isn’t just about convenience. It’s about preserving the identity of the sport, reclaiming its place on the calendar, and making sure the biggest moments in college football don’t get lost in the shuffle.
The Ducks are focused on Texas Tech, but their coach is already thinking bigger. And if the people in charge are listening, they might just realize he’s onto something.