Forty-two points in three games. For an Oregon program with big expectations, that’s a long stretch of waiting for the offense to show up. On Sunday, October 25, head coach Dan Lanning decided he’d seen enough, firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer seven games into the 2026 season.
The move follows Saturday’s 21–10 loss at Illinois, which left the Ducks at 4–3 overall and 2–2 in the Big Ten. Oregon has averaged 14 points over its last three games, a difficult number to square with the national championship ambitions that accompanied this team into the fall. Now the program in Eugene is changing offensive leadership with five regular-season games remaining.
Lanning Calls for a New Direction
In Oregon’s official announcement, Lanning thanked Mehringer for his contributions while explaining why he was making the change. “I believe a new direction is necessary to move our offense forward,” Lanning said. He described the decision as being in the program’s best interest and wished Mehringer well.
Mehringer’s time with the Ducks stretches back much further than this rough October. He joined Lanning’s staff as tight ends coach in 2022 and added co-offensive coordinator duties before the 2025 season. He took over the offense for 2026 after Will Stein left to become Kentucky’s head coach. His first season in that role ended after seven games.
A Tough October Gets Another Shakeup
The warning signs were already there when Oregon fell out of the AP Top 25 earlier this month. That followed a 17–15 loss to UCLA, a game in which the Ducks committed seven turnovers. Saturday’s loss at Illinois brought another afternoon with fewer than 20 points and another setback for a team that began the season ranked No. 2.
The change also carries a financial obligation. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Mehringer signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract before this season and that Oregon owes the remaining salary, citing a contract obtained through a public records request. The school’s Sunday announcement did not name a replacement. Who will call Oregon’s plays next remains the immediate unanswered question.
