Oregon’s first-year offensive coordinator, Drew Mehringer, is GONE. Fired! After only seven games, the school announced it Sunday. This was a brutal but absolutely necessary move after the Ducks’ offense has been absolutely floundering all season long. You have to wonder what took so long, especially when you look at the numbers.
The Offense Fell Apart, Fast
Remember last season? Oregon was straight-up dominating, ranking 11th nationally and putting up a blistering 36.9 points per game under Will Stein. Then Stein left, and Dan Lanning promoted Mehringer from co-offensive coordinator. That move was criticized from the jump, and man, has it looked bad. This fall, the Ducks are averaging only 33.1 points per game. And honestly? That number is totally inflated thanks to an 84-0 romp over Portland State. Seriously, if you strip that out, it is a different story. In Big Ten play, the Ducks have topped 17 points only once, in a 41-27 win against USC. When your Big Ten high is 17 points, you know you’re in deep trouble.
Quarterback Woes Compounded the Problem
Things got even worse when starting quarterback Dante Moore went down with a concussion against USC, sidelining him for three straight games. Without Moore, the Ducks’ offense became a total ghost town, averaging a pathetic 14 points per game. You’d think with Dylan Raiola transferring in from Nebraska, Oregon would have one of the best backup QB situations in the country, right? Wrong. Raiola reportedly cost the team a win against UCLA, and then he barely did anything in a dismal 21-10 loss to Illinois on Sunday. That Illinois game was the final nail in Mehringer’s coffin. Think about it: Illinois ranks 16th in the Big Ten in yards allowed per game (382.4) and 17th in passing yards allowed per game (248.0). You *have* to score more than 10 points against a defense like that, even if you are missing some key pieces.
Dan Lanning issued a statement saying, “Drew has been a valued member of this staff since 2022, and I am appreciative of everything he’s done for Oregon. He played a tremendous role in what this program has accomplished over the last several seasons. This was a decision I felt was in the best interest of our football program, as I believe a new direction is necessary to move our offense forward. I thank Drew for his efforts and wish him all the best.” But come on. Lanning’s loyalty to Mehringer, promoting him over others, feels like it became a fatal flaw this season, especially when you see Will Stein absolutely crushing it at Kentucky with a 7-1 start and averaging 32.9 points per game with “considerably fewer resources.” The Ducks clearly need to start fresh at offensive coordinator in 2027. They have to find a new direction, and fast. The season is on the line, and Lanning’s costly lesson in loyalty means they have to regroup and find someone to light a fire under that offense, or 2026 is officially a wash.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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