It turns out Dan Lanning was playing chess on Saturday night.
The Ohio State Buckeyes had just been knocked out of field goal range after an offensive pass interference penalty. Two plays later, he had 10 seconds on third-and-25.
That's when the University of Oregon's head coach secretly took a gamble.
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Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning watches the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl college football game between the Liberty Flames and Oregon Ducks at State Farm Stadium on January 1, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Kevin Abel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Will Howard's next pass was incomplete, but the Ducks were called for an illegal substitution. They had a 12th player on the field, and Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day was eager to call him up at the time.
However, speculation is that this illegal substitution was a strategic gamble that greatly favored Lanning, who would have to take just a 5-yard penalty in order not to give up a big play and waste nearly half the remaining time in the game. That's what it was.
On the next play, Howard's slide failed in time, forcing a timeout and the Ducks winning.
Mr. Lanning largely admitted that his guess was correct.
“We had a timeout before that. We spend an inordinate amount of time on situations. There are some situations that don't happen very often in college football, but this is obviously something we've been working on. As a result.” Lanning said quietly on Monday..
Well, the NCAA apparently realized this loophole pretty quickly. Yahoo Sports reported. The NCAA is reportedly considering changing the rules.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning celebrates Dillon Gabriel #8's touchdown during the fourth quarter of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. I reacted to the decision. (Arika Jenner/Getty Images)
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“We had a good conversation regarding this play,” NCAA Secretary of State rules editor Steve Shaw told Yahoo Sports. “We realized how it played out.”
In the National Football League, a 12-man penalty turns the clock back on time, but this doesn't happen in college football.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning congratulated his players after defeating the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. (Christopher Krebling-USA TODAY Sports)
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The win moved the Ducks to No. 2 in the nation, their highest ranking since appearing in the national championship game in 2015.
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