Dan Lanning’s perceived snub in the “Top Coaches” rankings, despite leading Oregon to an undefeated season and a Big Ten title, stems from a combination of factors that weigh heavily on perceptions of coaching success. One major reason is the value placed on experience. As Tom Fornelli from CBS Sports pointed out, this is Lanning’s first college football playoff appearance, and his first conference title, whereas coaches like Ryan Day have been through multiple playoff seasons. Experience in high-pressure situations, especially postseason success, is a key differentiator in such rankings.
However, when you look at recent performance and overall impact, Lanning’s accomplishments seem more impressive. Oregon’s dominant regular season, including overcoming tough challenges from teams like Boise State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, showcases his ability to lead a team through adversity. His offensive adjustments, along with QB Dillon Gabriel’s Heisman finalist nod, suggest Lanning’s coaching acumen is undeniable, making his exclusion from the Top 3 seem questionable.
Ryan Day’s struggles with Ohio State, particularly their fourth consecutive loss to Michigan and his team’s underperformance in high-profile games like this year’s rivalry match, make Lanning a strong candidate for a higher ranking. While Day has had consistent playoff appearances, his inability to win key games in recent seasons leaves room for doubt about his ability to bring a championship to Ohio State. Lanning, on the other hand, has shown his potential to lead Oregon into the playoff, an achievement that could ultimately prove his coaching abilities surpass those of Day, at least for this season.
In summary, Lanning’s exclusion from the top spots seems unfair, given his current accomplishments. It’s an issue of balancing experience against recent success, but if we focus on coaching impact, Lanning certainly deserves more recognition.