Dan Lanning Gives Final Updates Ahead of the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning met with reporters in Pasadena on Monday morning ahead of No. 1 Oregon’s matchup against No. 8 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

The Ducks won the first matchup against the Buckeyes earlier this season 32-31 and they know they’re in for another tough battle on New Year’s Day.

Below you’ll find some of Lanning’s top quotes from his press conference, as well as the latest video from Monday’s Media Day.

On how to maintain the No. 1 ranking, ingredients for win vs. Ohio State

Lanning: “The way you maintain it is you win. You do it by focusing on each play, each moment, not making it bigger than it is. Just trying to make sure that you can maintain your focus on what your job is. Everybody has a job for the team, doing that job for your team. If we do that, things will go the right way.”

On what he thought of the Big Ten at first, where he’s at now having played in it, team goals

Lanning: ” First off, I had an outside looking of the Big Ten. It’s a conference I had a lot of respect for, obviously some great teams. I think the history of this conference is unique and special, something we’re really excited to be a part of. And I’ve been extremely impressed with the leadership from Tony Petitti, the commissioner, and everybody from that standpoint as well as the opportunity to go play against teams in some unbelievable venues. And all those things have been really rewarding.

I think it’s a physical conference. It’s obviously one of the best conferences, if not the best conference in college football. So I’m glad that we get to be a part of it. Our goal is just to always play to our best, don’t focus on the result, but focus on the process. If we’re playing our best football, the rest takes care much itself.”

On feeling pressure as team has improved, risen to the point it’s at now

Lanning: ” I think you hope that you can feel that pressure. If you’re in moments like this, you’re certainly going to feel pressure. I think anybody who says they’re not, they’re lying. But that’s what you want to coach towards. You want to be in positions where pressure is applied. And Kirby said it before but I agree with him: Pressure is a privilege. If you put yourself in position to where you’re going to have pressure, that’s something you have to be able to handle. And our team’s handled it really well so far, have to continue to do so down the stretch.”

On having Jordan Burch in this matchup, what he changes for the Oregon defense

Lanning: “You just said it; we all know he’s a great player. When we have him we’re at more full strength. And we have a lot of talented players in those positions, but goes back to what I talked about — the competition it creates for us in practice and the ability to make sure that we’re fresh in games in critical moments.”

On what he took from the film he watched from the first matchup against Ohio State

Lanning: ” There’s a lot of moments in those games that we could have been better. I think that’s probably one of the biggest things I walked away with — a missed a field goal, a botched snap, probably an opportunity for me to be able to kick the ball down there when we’re tight to the red area. Last time I think we scored two touchdowns in five trips to the red zone. That’s an area we can certainly improve and be better. But ultimately coming out with a victory in a tight game, I think that tells you a little bit about our team as well. But realizing there’s some moments we left out there and things that we can attack and improve on.”

On what went through his mind when he saw that Oregon might draw Ohio State

Lanning: ” I think excitement. When you get to play great teams, I think you’re really pumped. And to be at this venue, the Rose Bowl, to play a team like Ohio State, I think that’s what you coach for. Those are the moments that you want to be a part of.”

On what he’s learned as a head coach from close losses in recent years

Lanning: ” A ton. If you’re not learning, you’re hurting yourself. So ultimately, decision-making process, how you prepare your teams. There’s a lot of pieces that I’ve adapted a little bit different just based on the team and where we’re at. But I also think our team’s in a lot different situation from emotional maturity and how we handle those moments. And, like I said, our team’s been about growth. I think that’s really shown up this year. So we try to learn from those moments and adapt.”