Faced with a fourth down and three from the Washington 47-yard line with 2:11 to go in the game, Dan Lanning and No. 8 Oregon had a decision to make.
Oregon could go for it, with a first down conversion effectively icing the game and securing a road upset of No. 7 Washington. If the conversion failed, the Huskies would be set up at midfield with their Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Michael Penix Jr. having plenty of time, and good field position, to set up a game-winning touchdown drive.
The Ducks could also punt and make Penix and the Huskies drive the length of the field to try to win the game on their home field.
Lanning and the Ducks went for it. Ducks quarterback Bo Nix was flushed out to his left before throwing an incomplete pass that sent the crowd at Husky Stadium into a frenzy.
Steven Bisig/USA TODAY Sports
It took Penix two passes to give Washington the lead for good. Penix hit Ja’Lynn Polk for 35 yards to the Oregon 18, then found wideout Rome Odunze for an 18-yard strike in the left corner of the end zone to give Washington a 36–33 win.
Oregon would go on to make things interesting behind the arm of Nix, driving down the field before kicker Camden Lewis missed a 43-yard field goal as time expired that would have sent the game into overtime.
Lanning’s gamble with two minutes to go came back to bite the Ducks. It was a high risk, high reward decision that ultimately didn’t pay off. Lanning made a similar call to go for it on fourth and goal before halftime instead of kicking a short field goal. Those three points left on the board proved pivotal in the outcome.
Lanning took ownership of his decision making when asked about it after the game.
“I think this game is 100% on me,” Lanning said.
The debate regarding Lanning’s game management aggressiveness was the topic du jour on social media in the wake of the Ducks’ three-point loss on the road. Here are some of the best reactions on social media in the wake of the Oregon defeat.
Two big big calls of his today absolutely did not work, but that is how aggressive game calls work, and I would still feel more than fine about Lanning if I were an Oregon fan. Can't bail on aggression as a tactic because of one very high-profile failure https://t.co/x7pAPSJjp8
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) October 14, 2023
I think the only one of the fourth-down calls I'd take back if I were Lanning was the one at the end of the half.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 15, 2023
You're getting the ball to start the second. Grab the bonus 3 there after the Penix pick.
But if i can avoid giving that guy the ball back late, I'm OK with that.
Why so you can net 23 yards when it goes in the end zone and give up a touchdown with an additional two plays?
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) October 14, 2023
I love the Lanning call. Ripping coaches for putting it on the line is the reason we have so many cowardly calls. https://t.co/ATl2WjeyeT
Lanning could've gotten away with the horrific 4th down call -- if he kicked the two gimme putt FGs.
— Matt Hayes (@MattHayesCFB) October 14, 2023
Dan Lanning knew that Washington would score very quickly and very easily, that's what made it such a smart call.
— Max Olson (@max_olson) October 14, 2023
Love being aggressive with play calls and fourth downs but Lanning needed to take the two short field goals
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 14, 2023
Awful call by Dan Lanning. Just a terrible decision.
— Mark Zinno (@MarkZinno) October 14, 2023
Dumbest call I’ve seen in a LONG time by Dan Lanning and Oregon.
— Eldridge Recasner (@erecasner) October 14, 2023
FINAL, NCAA Football:
— Donald R. Koelper (@Donald_from_HI) October 14, 2023
Washington 36, Oregon 33
The Ducks' loss can be directly attributed to the reckless call by Oregon HC Dan Lanning, who rolled the dice on 4th and 3 at the Huskies' 47 with 2:16 to go and the Ducks up, 33-29.
He rolled snake eyes. 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/hSkiFURs3Z
