As the Oregon Ducks begin another season, head coach Dan Lanning finds himself looking back on a moment that stands as one of the most significant losses of his career. It was a loss that not only impacted his team but also shaped his coaching philosophy going forward. The 2025 Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, a game that brought immense national attention to the Ducks, remains a source of reflection for Lanning. It wasn’t just a game; it was a turning point.
Lanning, who has quickly gained a reputation as a tactician with a defensive mastermind’s ability to read opponents, admits that the sting of that defeat lingers, but he’s also using it as fuel to propel his program forward. At the time, Oregon entered the prestigious bowl game as the underdog, facing off against one of the most storied programs in college football history. The game was closely contested, with Oregon finding themselves on the wrong side of a 31-28 scoreline.
For many fans, the final scoreline in that Rose Bowl was a heart-wrenching conclusion to what had been a season full of promise and anticipation. Oregon had managed to surpass expectations, establishing themselves as a dominant force in the Pac-12. Yet, facing Ohio State’s explosive offense and stubborn defense was a challenge that the Ducks ultimately couldn’t overcome. The Buckeyes’ relentlessness wore them down, and despite showing moments of brilliance, Oregon couldn’t quite find the final pieces to secure the win.
Lanning, always quick to analyze a loss through a lens of learning, acknowledged that the game revealed a lot about where his team was and where they still needed to go. The Rose Bowl loss was, in many ways, a lesson in resilience, maturity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Lanning’s decision to reflect on the game and its lessons openly with his team highlights his maturity as a coach and his ability to turn a setback into a stepping stone.
“I think there’s always value in reflecting on losses like that,” Lanning said in an exclusive interview. “The Rose Bowl was an emotional experience for our team. I could feel how much it hurt the players. They were devastated, and that’s a reflection of how much they care. But at the same time, we didn’t let it define us. We used that loss to better ourselves.”
One of the most notable takeaways for Lanning was his team’s inability to manage the game’s late moments. The Ducks were in striking distance, but crucial mistakes, including a couple of missed opportunities in the red zone and a late defensive lapse, allowed Ohio State to edge out the win. The final few minutes of the game were a whirlwind of emotions for Oregon fans as they watched the team fall short despite showing great promise.
For Lanning, the biggest takeaway wasn’t just about the physical aspect of the game but the mental game. “We were in a position to win that game, but we let the little things slip away. Whether it was missed tackles, dropped passes, or just a lack of execution in crucial moments, we didn’t capitalize when it mattered most,” Lanning reflected. “That’s something we’ve worked on heavily since. We’ve put a lot of emphasis on focus, discipline, and situational awareness.”
A big part of Lanning’s coaching philosophy is teaching his players to thrive under pressure, a skill that can often be the difference between winning and losing in games of such high stakes. He believes that one of the main reasons Oregon came up short in that Rose Bowl loss was the team’s inability to stay composed during the final moments. “In big moments, you have to block out the noise. The environment, the pressure, the expectations—they all need to be secondary. The key is staying calm and executing,” Lanning said. “That’s something we talk about all the time now.”
One of the areas in which Lanning felt his team was lacking was in the defensive side of the ball. Against Ohio State, Oregon struggled to contain the Buckeyes’ explosive offense, which was led by quarterback Kyle McCord. McCord threw for over 300 yards in the game and was able to keep the Ducks’ defense on their heels throughout. Despite a strong effort from the Oregon defense, they couldn’t stop Ohio State when it mattered most, and that failure proved costly.
Lanning, who made his name as a defensive coordinator, was quick to admit that there were areas of his defensive scheme that needed refinement. “We didn’t adjust well enough to their offense. Ohio State’s offense is a machine, and they make you pay for every mistake,” Lanning said. “I’ve gone back and watched that game multiple times, looking for the moments where we could have done better, and it’s clear that we weren’t as disciplined as we needed to be in certain areas. That’s something we’ve spent a lot of time working on.”
Since that loss, Lanning has made significant adjustments to Oregon’s defensive approach. He’s brought in new coaching staff members, implemented fresh strategies, and placed a renewed emphasis on stopping high-powered offenses. The 2025 offseason has been filled with discussions of what went wrong and how to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
But Lanning isn’t just focused on the technical aspects of the game. He also emphasizes the importance of leadership and team chemistry. The Rose Bowl loss revealed some gaps in leadership within the Oregon locker room, especially in terms of guiding younger players through pressure situations. Lanning believes that the team’s leaders in the locker room must set the tone for the rest of the squad.
“I think one thing we learned was the importance of strong leadership,” Lanning explained. “When things aren’t going your way, and the pressure is mounting, you need leaders to step up and rally the team. That’s something we’ve worked hard on since the Rose Bowl, ensuring that our older guys and captains understand their role in keeping the team together during adversity.”
For Lanning, looking forward means focusing on growth, improvement, and making sure his players learn from the lessons of the Rose Bowl. He hasn’t let the loss define him or his program. Instead, he’s used it as a rallying point to build a more resilient and disciplined team. The Ducks have taken the necessary steps to fortify their weaknesses and make a deep run in the postseason.
The loss to Ohio State wasn’t just a missed opportunity; it was a pivotal moment for Lanning and Oregon’s program. The Ducks now have the experience of playing in one of college football’s biggest games, and that’s something they can carry with them in future seasons. Lanning’s ability to turn that loss into a tool for motivation speaks to his growth as a head coach.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, Lanning and the Ducks are ready to take the lessons learned from the Rose Bowl and use them to their advantage. Oregon enters the new season with a renewed focus, a clearer sense of direction, and a stronger belief in their ability to compete with the best of the best. There’s no question that the heartbreak of the Ohio State loss still lingers, but Dan Lanning has made it clear that the Ducks are moving forward, stronger and more determined than ever before.
In the end, the Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State may have stung, but it’s clear that for Lanning, it was just another step on the journey toward greatness. The lessons learned, the growth experienced, and the fire that’s been lit within the Oregon program will surely have a lasting impact. And as the Ducks look to the future, they can rest assured knowing that they’ve already learned the toughest lesson of all: sometimes, it’s not about the loss itself, but how you bounce back from it.