"Our team's about growth": Oregon HC Dan Lanning believes his team has improved significantly since the last time against Ohio State

Dan Lanning will lead his Oregon team out against Ohio State for the second time this season. The Ducks are scheduled to face the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day as both teams hope to advance to the next stage of the new 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Ducks secured a narrow 32-31 victory against the then-No. 2 Buckeyes in Week 6 of the regular season. However, Dan Lanning believes that the Oregon team stepping onto the field in Pasadena is a vastly improved version compared to the one that faced Ohio State in Eugene.

“Our team's about growth,” Lanning said. “We hammer that a lot in our meetings. I'd like to think there are a lot of things we've improved on since that moment.

I don't know if there's one overall arching thing that you would look at and say, OK, this is where they drastically changed because I don't think that's what it's about. Growth comes in incremental pieces.”

Dan Lanning reflects on the previous game against Ohio State

Looking back at the keenly contested encounter at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Dan Lanning emphasized that the game served as a valuable learning experience for Oregon. Both the coach and his players were able to learn something crucial in the Week 6 game.

Despite coming out victorious, Lanning noted that there were a lot of things his team could have done better. This is something the Ducks will look to address in the Rose Bowl against the fired-up Buckeyes coming off a decisive first-round win.

“There's a lot of moments in those games that we could have been better,” Lanning said. “I think that's probably one of the biggest things I walked away with -- a missed field goal, a botched snap, probably an opportunity for me to be able to kick the ball down there when we're (in) the red area.”

“Last time I think we scored two touchdowns in five trips to the red zone. That's an area we can certainly improve and be better. But ultimately, coming out with a victory in a tight game, I think that tells you a little bit about our team as well. But realizing there are some moments we left out there and things that we can attack and improve on.”

This will be Dan Lanning’s inaugural appearance in the Rose Bowl, and he is hoping to end it with a victory on Wednesday. The Ducks plan to stick with the strategies that have been highly effective throughout the season, remaining steadfast as they enter the playoffs.