Dan Lanning harps on Oregon performing in 3rd quarter with 28-10 halftime lead over Michigan

After racing away from Michigan for a 28-10 halftime lead behind a 21-point second quarter, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was still unsatisfied. He called on his team to perform better in the third quarter.

And when CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell posed a question to Lanning about the third quarter, suggesting he’d called it Oregon’s “Achilles heel,” he brushed that notion off. He framed the 15 minutes out of halftime as an opportunity, instead.

“I didn’t say that — third quarter’s our opportunity, right?” Lanning said. “Our opportunity to come out here and play better football. We talk about the middle eight all the time, it’s our chance to go out there and perform.”

But with 28 points in the first half and the only Michigan touchdown coming via a short field on a muffed punt, Lanning didn’t have a ton to be upset about, even if he’s going to push his team for better in the third quarter.

“Really one drive where they had some tough field position and they’ve driven the ball, really proud of the way they’ve performed so far,” Lanning said.

Oregon also nearly made it 28-10 a bit sooner than it did, via a highlight-reel Evan Stewart touchdown catch that was ultimately called back for an illegal man downfield penalty.

While that play didn’t stand, Lanning suggested Stewart will have more opportunities in the second half to nab his second touchdown of the day.

“He does that in practice all the time, right? Not surprised one bit. He’s going to get another opportunity in the second half to have another one of those,” Lanning said.

Stewart’s first touchdown arguably shouldn’t have counted

Oregon marched down the field on its first offensive series and completed what appeared to be an inch-perfect touchdown pass to Stewart open the scoring against Michigan. And while the call stood and Oregon kicked a PAT, the call should not have stood.

An additional replay angle shown by CBS after Oregon had kicked the PAT and the game went to commercial showed that Stewart clearly dropped the ball and then recovered it after it bounced off the ground. However, officials let the call stand and a replay review was not initiated.

“But during commercial, it’s clear that that ball, the nose of the ball hit the ground,” color commentator Gary Danielson said on the CBS broadcast. “We thought it was a great catch, it really wasn’t a catch and this should’ve been fourth down. We missed it. Remember, the replay officials have the ability to go back and delay and ask for every angle. They missed it, too.”

Another look at the Oregon TD shows the ball may have hit the ground on the catch

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/rDEe53I6cV

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024

Instead of facing fourth and goal, Oregon kept the touchdown and an early 7-0 lead on the road.