First, No. 6 Oregon head coach Dan Lanning derailed Penn State football's entire 2025 season with a double overtime win over the Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten). Then, he crushed all hopes and possibilities of him leaving the Ducks to take one of the job openings around the country — including Penn State's.
It's the second Big Ten head coach wiped off athletic director Pat Kraft's board of head coach candidates on Thursday. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule signed a two-year contract extension with the Cornhuskers that will keep him in Nebraska through 2032. Rhule was the leading candidate for the job in Happy Valley before Thursday.
Lanning was interviewed on the "Rich Eisen Show" on Thursday and confirmed that Eugene will be his home as long as he keeps on winning.
💻 @CoachDanLanning
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) October 30, 2025
Would the Oregon head coach entertain possibly leaving Eugene for one of these other big-time openings?#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/PFjMUQEklW
"Zero. It’s zero. Yeah, I’m not leaving Oregon," Lanning said when asked about his interest in other jobs. "As long as I win, that’s what I always tell my kids. If your dad wins, we’ll be at Oregon. So I’ve got to win. That’s how it changes."
The Ducks are currently 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. The only game they lost was to No. 2 Indiana, which put them third in the conference behind No. 1 Ohio State and the Hoosiers.
"You got to recognize when you've got something really special. A really special staff, really special players," Lanning said.
Dan Lanning says continuity in personnel is important in college football
Before being asked about his interest in the job openings, Lanning emphasized how important it is for a college football program to have continuity. When recruits commit or enroll to play under a certain coach, their world can change in a second. Then thinking about the staff, Lanning said the same idea applies.
Keeping this in mind, Lanning's feet are secured in Eugene with his players, staff, and other personnel who rely on him to win, be consistent, and stay put with the Ducks. Lanning said he knows he has the people around him to succeed, making it a point to note all the reasons he has to stay at Oregon before being asked about his interest in the positions.
"Probably more than anything it makes me grateful for where I'm at, and recognizing how fragile and special it is," Lanning said in response to former head coach James Franklin being fired after a three-game losing streak. ". . . it motivates you to keep working hard because you realize how temporary things can be if you're not moving in the right direction."