ESPN analyst Nick Saban has showered praise on Oregon coach Dan Lanning after his Ducks crushed Michigan 38-17 in Week 10. The seven-time national championship-winning coach touched upon Oregon's balance in offense and defense this season.
"I like Oregon because they've played with the most consistency of any team this entire season," Saban said on Saturday's College GameDay show. "The Ducks are 11th in offense, they're 11th in defense, so they play complementary football."
Saban then swooned over Lanning's mindset, referring to a timeout he called at the Big House toward the end of the game. He called the timeout to let his Oregon players watch the Michigan fans head for the exits as the stadium turned quiet.
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"But I like Dan Lanning's approach," Saban said. "He's not about just winning the game. He's about defeating the other team. He called timeout at Michigan to let his team know that we've defeated these guys and the stadium's empty. That's the mindset that I like in the team."
Saban's fellow College GameDay crew members, including Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit, agreed with the legendary coach.
Lanning has led Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) to the top-ranked team in the country. The Ducks are among the few unbeaten teams and are in pole position to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
Many even believe Oregon is the favorite to win the national championship this season. However, Lanning's team will need to keep a level head and close out the season well.
Dan Lanning's Oregon will aim to continue its excellent run against Maryland in Week 11
Oregon will host the Maryland Terrapins (4-4, 1-4) on Saturday. Dan Lanning's team is the favorite to win this game, in which star quarterback Dillon Gabriel will lead the Ducks offense.
Here are all the key details for the Oregon vs. Maryland clash, which is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV channel: BTN
- Live stream: Fubo
- Venue: Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon
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