Dan Lanning’s glowing review from Ohio State HC Ryan Day goes well beyond the on-field rivalry that Oregon has fully embraced as a Big Ten newcomer originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
After splitting their two matchups in 2024-2025, the Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes are clearly atop the Big Ten. The only team to go undefeated in last year’s regular season, and the now-defending national champions boast a ton of elite attributes. This week’s Big Ten Media Days offered coaches Dan Lanning and Ryan Day the chance to trade some barbs.
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Instead, it was all about mutual adoration.
Day started the lovefest on Tuesday, expanding on his personal relationship with Lanning. That included when they got closer and what makes their bond more special despite being on-field rivals.
“I think Dan (Lanning) is a great coach,” Day said. “I think he’s got a great perspective when you really get a chance to know him, which I have. We got a chance to go on the Nike trip together and then also play golf this spring.”
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Day praised Lanning’s resilience, particularly in the context of his family’s strength. Lanning’s wife, Sauphia, faced osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, but triumphed over it, completing treatment in 2017 and serving as an enduring inspiration to her family.
“When you hear the story about he and his wife and everything his wife has been through, he’s got an unbelievable perspective on the game and what motivates him,” Day continued. “You don’t always see that in coaches. So I have a lot of respect for him and not only the work that he does, but also the perspective that he has. He cares about people and he’s got a good balance in his life, I believe. He’s very intelligent and it’s always good competing against him.”
Under Lanning and Day’s leadership, Oregon and Ohio State have consistently ranked among the nation’s top football programs.
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Lanning’s 35 victories in his first 40 games as Oregon’s head coach set a program record and rank second among active head coaches since 2022, trailing only Georgia’s Kirby Smart (39 wins). Since 2023, Lanning tops all active head coaches with 25 wins and a 92.59% winning percentage, stats that demand respect from any opponent.
Both coaches have capitalized on top-tier transfer portal additions, recruiting classes, state-of-the-art facilities, and dynamic rosters, positioning their teams as College Football Playoff contenders.
In the 2024 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl, Day’s Buckeyes halted Oregon’s undefeated 13-0 season with a 41-21 victory, advancing to claim the National Championship.
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Earlier that season, in October 2024, Oregon edged Ohio State 32-31 in a thrilling game at Autzen Stadium, drawing a record 60,129 fans for the stadium’s first top-five matchup. That victory over No. 2 Ohio State tied Oregon’s highest-ranked win in program history.
While Oregon and Ohio State aren’t scheduled to meet in the 2025 Big Ten regular season, a clash in the Big Ten Championship Game remains a possibility.
Despite only 12 all-time meetings, recent games between the two programs have been high-stakes, electrifying battles with significant consequences.
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
