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Dan Lanning doesn't close door on offensive play-caller change

Oregon’s offensive struggles against UCLA reached a breaking point midway through the third quarter, with the Ducks trailing 10-6 and having managed fewer than 100 total yards while committing four turnovers. Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola, who had thrown for 300 yards and two touchdowns just two weeks prior, was limited to 36 passing yards by that point, with his confidence visibly waning after a 3-of-16 performance that included two interceptions.

The Ducks’ desperation led to an unconventional playcall—a shift into the I-formation on 1st-and-10 from their own 11-yard line, a formation typically reserved for short-yardage situations. Despite three straight runs up the middle yielding the first first down in what felt like an eternity, the offense quickly fumbled the ball after Raiola’s lone pass attempt, compounding a fifth turnover of the game.

The Ducks’ run game, led by running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr., also stalled, averaging fewer than four yards per carry, while offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer faced mounting criticism for his play-calling and lack of effective schemes to counter Raiola’s struggles. Following the 17-15 loss, head coach Dan Lanning declined to rule out a change at the play-caller position, emphasizing the need to evaluate the offense’s failures thoroughly.

Social media erupted with calls for Mehringer’s approach to be reassessed, given his inconsistent performance in his first season as Oregon’s offensive coordinator.

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