After leading the University of Oregon to a Big Ten title in their first-ever season in the Big Ten Conference, head coach Dan Lanning has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. But will that future be in Eugene, Oregon?
It sure looks like it.
According to ESPN college sports insider Pete Thamel, Lanning is set to agree to a new contract with the team. Per the report, his new deal will run through the 2030 season and will average around $11 million per year. The new deal instantly makes him one of the highest-paid head coaches in college sports.
“Can confirm that Dan Lanning has agreed to a new contract at Oregon, which is pending board approval. His salary will average close to $11 million annually and the deal goes six years through the 2030 season. Yahoo Sports first reported the deal,” Thamel wrote on X.
Can confirm that Dan Lanning has agreed to a new contract at Oregon, which is pending board approval. His salary will average close to $11 million annually and the deal goes six years through the 2030 season. Yahoo Sports first reported the deal. pic.twitter.com/Oc8pM1ahWc
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 6, 2025
Lanning has been nothing short of superb since becoming the head coach of the Ducks back in 2022. In his very first season he led the team to a 10-3 record and a No. 15 ranking in the final AP poll. But that was only the beginning.
In 2023, Lanning’s Ducks went 12-2, losing to Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game, but ended strong with a win over Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl.
Then things really came together in 2024.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
This past season, his Ducks were the only team to finish 12-0 in the regular season and stayed unbeaten at 13-0 as the No. 1 overall seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. Unfortunately, Oregon hit a wall when they faced Ohio State for a second time, losing 41-21 in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score suggests.
But while Lanning still has work to do to get the Ducks back into the national title game, it seems increasingly clear that he’s the right man for the job.
Ohio State may be the new kings of college football and the Big Ten Conference, but Oregon are poised to be a powerhouse for a very long time.
Will Lanning lead Oregon to a national title?
Related: What Kirby Smart Texted Dan Lanning After National Title
