Oregon State Coach Advocates for Earlier College Football Season End

Oregon State head coach Dan Lanning is making a case for the college football season to wrap up by January 1 each year. He believes this change could help tackle various issues that arise throughout the season.

Lanning highlighted the struggles that coordinators face when they transition to head coaching roles and noted the need for fewer extended breaks between games. He’s been advocating for an earlier season conclusion since the summer months.

“Playoff games should occur every weekend until the season finishes,” Lanning expressed during a press conference on Wednesday. “Even if it means starting in Week 0 and losing the bye week, ending by January 1 would allow coaches to move on to new opportunities as the transfer portal opens.”

Throughout the conference, Lanning reiterated that maintaining rhythm by playing in the first round is crucial for teams. Last season, Oregon State, despite being the top seed, fell to Ohio State in the initial playoff game.

While the NFL schedules games on Saturdays during December, Lanning prefers that those days remain solely for college football. He argues this would allow the College Football Playoff to accelerate its pace and conclude by January 1.

“I have a lot of respect for the NFL, but we are essentially a preparatory league for them,” he stated. “We contribute a lot to the NFL, but curiously, we don’t receive compensation from them to support college football.”

Lanning remarked that Saturday should be “sacred” for college football, suggesting that every Saturday in December should belong to it.

The coordinators at Oregon, both on offense and defense, are also trying to manage dual roles right now. Offensive coordinator Will Stein has taken the head coaching position at Kentucky, while defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is now leading at California.

If Oregon State progresses past the quarterfinals, both coaches will focus on leading the Ducks toward a national championship while also navigating the impending transfer portal opening on January 2.

“This year’s national championship game is set for January 19th, and as a coach stepping into a new program and assembling a staff, that’s quite daunting,” Lanning commented. “It’s tough for players to grasp continuity amid portal visits and various distractions. Clearly, moving the season earlier would help facilitate these playoff games happening sooner.”

Oregon State is scheduled to face Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on January 1 at noon ET.