Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti offers praise to Oregon’s Dan Lanning ahead of their anticipated top 10 match up
Curt Cignetti had nothing but good things to say about Dan Lanning and his team.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti had nothing but praise for Oregon’s Dan Lanning ahead of the Hoosiers’ top-10 showdown with the Ducks in Eugene this weekend. Speaking earlier Monday, Cignetti – a veteran coach with more than four decades of experience – lauded Lanning for the program he’s built and the standard he’s set at Oregon in just a few short years.
“Great opponent, great team, a lot of great players. Extremely well-coached,” Cignetti said. “Big, fast, athletic, physical, depth. Coach Lanning has done a tremendous job recruiting, development, attention. Probably one of the most impressive young coaching phenoms to come around in a while, I would say, having been in this game for a little bit. They’re a great football team. Looking forward to the challenge. Confidence in our team.”
For Cignetti, who began his career in the early 1980s and has coached across multiple levels of college football, the admiration for Lanning carries weight. At just 39 years old, Lanning has already become one of the brightest young minds in the sport, and his impact on Oregon has been undeniable. Since taking over the program in 2022, Lanning has led the Ducks to consistent national relevance, highlighted by a 10–3 debut season, a 12–2 campaign in 2023, and an undefeated regular season in 2024. His fourth year now finds Oregon entrenched among the elite, ranked No. 3 heading into this week’s matchup.
Cignetti’s comments reflect what many around college football have observed – that Oregon has developed a reputation for being one of the nation’s most complete teams under Lanning’s leadership. The Ducks are fast, physical, and disciplined, built on a foundation of relentless recruiting and player development. Lanning’s combination of energy, detail, and adaptability has drawn comparisons to some of the sport’s top coaches, and his ability to sustain success in the transition to Big Ten play has only strengthened his résumé.
Still, Cignetti made clear that Indiana won’t be intimidated. His team, also unbeaten, is approaching the trip to Eugene with confidence and belief in its own preparation. But even as he spoke of his team’s mindset, his respect for what Oregon and Lanning have built was unmistakable. For two programs on the rise, Saturday’s matchup represents more than a game – it’s a meeting between experience and youth, between two coaches who have each made their mark in very different ways.
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