At first glance, Oregon coach Dan Lanning does not appear to be the kind of person who would be considered to succeed Nick Saban.
A video that Lanning sent on social media on Thursday stated that he would not be leaving the state of Oregon. Following Saban's announcement on Wednesday that he would be retiring as head coach of Alabama, Lanning was instantly identified as the frontrunner to take over the position.
The video is about as strong of a declaration as you can get that Lanning will not be on Alabama's sideline in 2024. This is despite the fact that it is impossible to say never when it comes to the college football coaching carousel.
Text that said, "If you are scared that your coach is leaving, then come play for us," was included in the film. There is no way that the Ducks will leave, and I will not be leaving either.
After then, a small video clip of Lanning smoking a cigar was interspersed across the text.
The Oregon Ducks finished the 2023 season with a record of 12-2, solidifying their position as one of the favorites to win the Big Ten Conference and establishing themselves as a viable contender for a spot in the 12-team playoff.
In order to replace Bo Nix, the Ducks brought in Dillon Gabriel, a former quarterback for Oklahoma and UCF. Additionally, the Ducks have a significant amount of returning talent on both sides of the ball.
Following Mario Cristobal's departure from the coaching position, Lanning has been the head coach of Oregon for the previous two seasons. After working as the defensive coordinator for Georgia and as a graduate assistant for Alabama under Saban, Lanning moved to Eugene to take up his new position.