Dan Lanning's Updated Contract Buyout After Oregon Suffers Historic Loss vs. Illinois, Drops to 4-3

Oregon coach Dan Lanning's seat might be getting hotter.

The Ducks dropped to 4-3 on the season and potentially out of College Football Playoff contention Saturday after losing to Illinois for the first time in 56 years.

Lanning is under contract with Oregon through the 2030 season. The initial contract featured a $20 million buyout to leave, per ESPN's Jake Trotter.

As of December 2025 it would have cost the Ducks $56.7 million to buy him out of the remainder of the deal, per USA Today.

Lanning has served as head coach for Oregon since the 2022 season. He led the Ducks to consecutive 13-win seasons in 2024 and 2025 and capped off the run with a trip to the CFP semifinals last January.

The Ducks are now unlikely to see another playoff bid this winter after Lanning was unable to find a solution to missing star quarterback Dante Moore for a third straight game.

With Dylan Raiola under center, Oregon lost 21-10 to Illinois after scoring zero points in the second half despite out-gaining the home team by 426 yards to 314 yards.

Oregon Ducks - Illinois Fighting Illini Highlights

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Lanning was asked after Saturday's loss about the status of offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer.

"I think all things are on the table for us to make sure that we're the best version of ourselves, and we're currently not that. That's very clear," Lanning answered, per Ryan Clarke of The Oregonian.

Lanning also told reporters the team's goal would be to "evaluate exactly who we are" after the loss.

The Ducks debuted this season at No. 2 in the first AP Top 25 poll, marking the highest preseason ranking program history.

Oregon slipped out of the top 20 following a loss at unranked Oklahoma State, then lost Moore to a concussion in a win over USC before ending up unranked following a defeat by No. 21 UCLA.

Lanning has previously said Moore has returned to practice and resumed throwing amid his concussion-related absence. Whether Moore is able to return could shape what the rest of the season looks like as the Ducks potentially shift their goal from a playoff run to bowl game contention.