Dan Lanning’s rise has been built on more than wins, and that’s a big reason he’s moved past Lincoln Riley.
Oregon has already checked off the boxes USC still hasn’t: a Big Ten championship, a College Football Playoff appearance, and a playoff win. Lanning also beat Riley last year, and he had done it once before, a few years earlier. That track record is part of the story, but the bigger edge may be how Lanning has handled the churn around him.
There’s been a lot of staff movement in Eugene, yet it hasn’t looked like instability. It’s looked like a system working exactly as intended. Lanning has leaned on what he learned from Nick Saban and Kirby Smart, two coaches he said shaped how he thinks about building a program.
“Getting to watch Nick and Kirby both, there were things that you walked away with,” Lanning said. “It's evolved over time. It started with all of us on offense and Kenny (Dillingham) bringing some pieces that we wanted to have, but there were some non-negotiables that we knew we wanted in there.”
That approach has paid off. Lanning’s first two offensive coordinator hires both moved on to head-coaching jobs, and both landed at schools they wanted.
Oregon kept rolling anyway, pushing a little farther in the postseason each year. If that climb keeps going, the Ducks could be playing for a national championship this year - and if that happens, they may need another offensive coordinator sooner rather than later.
“If we continue to win games, guess what? We'll have more guys to become head coaches on our staff, and that's a win for us, right?”
Lanning said. “But ultimately, we want to be able to keep and maintain the Oregon offense, the Oregon defense.
What does that look like as we develop it and adjust it?”
That’s where the contrast with USC gets sharper. Both programs have dealt with turnover, but Oregon’s has largely come from success. USC’s, at least in this framing, has looked more like a search for the right formula that hasn’t quite come together.
Riley’s hire of Gary Patterson at defensive coordinator is now a major swing point. If it turns into a home run, USC has a chance to close the gap. If it’s only a bloop double, Oregon figures to stay ahead of the Trojans again this season.
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley Faces Another Defining USC Quarterback Recruiting Battle
Lincoln Rileys fifth season at USC has only sharpened the importance of quarterback recruiting, and the staffs approach has clearly evolved. Rather than chasing every headline, the Trojans have leaned harder into keeping top California talent home, spending NIL money more carefully and still making sure the blue-chip names at the sports most important position stay on the board. That backdrop is why the 2026 class matters so much already, with Jonas Williams in place as a four-star prospect from Illinois.
The next wave is even more intriguing, and it starts with Christopher Vargas, a highly rated 2028 quarterback from Massachusetts who has drawn offers from USC, UCLA, Washington and Ohio State. Riley remains USCs biggest selling point in these battles, and Vargas has already had a chance to see the campus and atmosphere for himself. For the Trojans, the challenge is familiar: land an elite quarterback early, keep the room stocked for the future, and avoid letting another national power set the pace in a recruiting race that could shape the program for years. [Read more 🡒]
USC Women Are Suddenly In The Hunt For A Program-Changer
A major recruiting battle is already taking shape around Kaleena Smith, the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2027, and USC has put itself squarely in the mix. Smith has lined up 11 official visits to top programs, giving the Trojans a chance to make their case against the usual bluebloods while leaning on what Southern California can offer a player with her profile.
For USC, the pitch is obvious: Smith is from Ontario, California, so the Trojans can sell the comfort of staying close to home, and they can also point to the Los Angeles market and the NIL opportunities that come with it. Add in a recruiting board that includes UConn, Baylor, Tennessee and UCLA, and this is the kind of chase that can shape the programs future long before a letter of intent is ever signed. [Read more 🡒]
USC May Be Closing In On A Key Piece For Its Future Backfield
USCs push for Malaki Davis has been building for a while, and the 2028 running back has become one of the more interesting names in the programs early recruiting picture. The Trojans have already extended an offer, hosted him multiple times and kept the relationship warm with running backs coach Anthony Jones, who has made several visits of his own. Davis has drawn attention from multiple schools, but USC has stayed in the mix as one of the most persistent programs in his recruitment.
The connection with Jones appears to matter, and Davis has said those visits mean a lot to him as the Trojans try to separate themselves from the rest of the field. He is planning to be back around the program this season by attending USC home games, which gives the staff another chance to keep selling the vision in person. With other offers still out there and more recruiting trips possible, USC looks well positioned, but this one is still in the stage where relationships could end up mattering as much as the offer sheet. [Read more 🡒]