Paul Finebaum: Dan Lanning handled the moment 'brilliantly' against Colorado, Deion Sanders

It wasn’t Prime time on Saturday. It was Dan Lanning’s show. In Oregon’s 42-6 statement win over Colorado this weekend, the Oregon head coach sent a message. On Monday, Paul Finebaum deciphered that message for the nation.

“I was blown away by Dan Lanning and I thought he handled the moment brilliantly,” Finebaum said on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.” “If Deion wants to talk, why can’t the other side? I found nothing that he said untrue.”

Despite a cordial appearance on SportsCenter the night before the matchup, Lanning verbally tore into Colorado and Deion Sanders during his pregame speech on Saturday.

“Rooted in substance, not flash. Today we talk with our pads,” Lanning said. “The Cinderella story is over. They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins.”

Dan Lanning is a man of his word

A win is what Oregon got. In the victory, the Ducks rattled off 522 total yards, more than doubling Colorado’s offensive production. Oregon had its way with the Buffaloes, completing 30 of its 35 pass attempts and picking up 30 first downs.

While Lanning lit a fire under his team in the locker room before the game, he tried to hide the smoke at the postgame press conference.

“I think that team’s heading in the right direction. I think that coach is doing a phenomenal job,” Lanning said. “I get a little passionate at times. I need to humble myself a little bit. This is one game.”

Not a fluke

Another tally in the win column. Colorado was Oregon’s first ranked win this season. Nonetheless, the Ducks’ resumé is certainly impressive. The team averages a whopping 54 points per game, the second-most in the country, trailing only USC.

Additionally, Oregon’s defense is a nightmare for opponents. The Ducks allow just 264 yards per outing, the 11th-least in the nation. Despite the pregame banter and jaw-dropping game day atmosphere, Finebaum claims Saturday’s outcome isn’t a surprise.

“That takes nothing away from what Coach Prime has done in the first couple of games in the season, but anyone who has even a basic understanding of college football knew what was going to happen Saturday,” Finebaum said.

Finebaum believes Lanning will deliver many more blowout wins in the future.

“Lanning, he’s firing,” Finebaum said. “I realize he’s got a premier job, but I think athletic directors around the country are going, ‘Man, this guy is a game changer.’ Something that folks around Alabama already knew based on his time in Tuscaloosa and later in Athens.”