Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Dan Lanning is a coach, so he will and has to say differently. But while there are five games remaining in the Oregon Ducks’ regular season, and a potential bowl game beyond that, the season that we all expected and since hasn’t come to be, is gone and best forgotten for the coach, fans and supporters of an otherwise proud program.

It should be said, these things do happen. And while a galactic failure on many fronts, the 2026 Oregon Ducks are far from the first team we’ve seen implode before our eyes.

In 2000, Alabama began the season at No. 3 and after losing their opener to UCLA, finished 3-8; in 2012, USC was the preseason No. 1 and finished 7-6; in 2024 Florida State was No. 10-ranked to start the season and finished 2-10; and lest we forget last year when formerly No.…