The Oregon Ducks have dominated the Big Ten in their inaugural season. Speaking to the media ahead of the Rose Bowl against conference rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, head coach Dan Lanning hailed the conference as one of the best in college football.
Dan Lanning Praises Big Ten In Oregon’s First Season in the Conference
Speaking to the media ahead of the Rose Bowl, Lanning praised the entire Big Ten conference, speaking of the demanding trips and mixture of game planning needed to compete in some of the toughest environments against some of the blue-blood college football programs.
Oregon ended the season undefeated with a 13-0 record, but the road may not have been as straightforward as it appeared on the field. With long road games in the Big House against the Michigan Wolverines and Camp Randall Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers, the Ducks have played in some unusually harsh environments.
“It does have a great variety of what success looks like,” Lanning claimed. “You can win in a lot of different ways in this conference. There are some teams that are ground-and-pound teams in this conference. There are teams that throw the ball. There are a lot of different defensive schemes.
“You have to be able to prepare for different situations and different moments throughout the season when you play the teams in this conference.”
Oregon has been able to deal with them all. While they escaped road games against Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana, the Ducks have still had to deal with and defeat two top-five ranked opponents.
And a budding new Big Ten rivalry is blossoming. The Ducks will face the Buckeyes for a second time this season on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl, the jewel in the crown of postseason college football.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Playoffs with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The Big Ten had 10 teams with positive regular-season records and have taken up a third of the new 12-team College Football Playoff format, with four teams making it to the postseason showcase.
It has led to many, including Lanning, labeling it the best conference in college football.
“I think it’s a physical conference. It’s obviously one of the best conferences, if not the best conference in college football.”
That tag has usually been associated with the SEC, but since the inclusion of several ex-Pac-12 teams due to realignment, the conference has gone from strength to strength.
Although reimagined, the Big Ten has retained its place at the heart of college football. The history, tradition, and pageantry of the conference’s teams are intertwined within the very fabric of the sport. It is something that hasn’t escaped the attention of the Ducks’ head coach, who has valued Oregon’s inclusion in what he believes is the best conference.
“I think the history of this conference is unique and special, something we’re really excited to be a part of.” Continuing, Lanning said, “The opportunity to go play against teams in some unbelievable venues. And all those things have been really rewarding.”
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.