The No. 2 Oregon Ducks are flying high. Their biggest statement? A 30-24 double-overtime win at Penn State during the legendary White Out. QB Dante Moore has been electric. His playmaking has analysts whispering Heisman contender. But its not like defense is an afterthought. Transfers like DB Dillon Thieneman and DL Bear Alexander have made instant impact. Now with all units clicking, Bleacher Report’s Brad Shepard sees this as Oregon’s best shot yet at a national title. But despite such a rise, a major question looms over how Dan Lanning will use the bye week.

Although Oregon gears up to face an undefeated Indiana squad, HC Lanning’s focus wasn’t just on the next game. He was scouting for the next generation. On September 3, he attended a Friday night matchup in Mobile to keep an eye on Ducks commit Anthony ‘Tank’ Jones Jr. Jones, a 5-star talent who picked Oregon over Alabama and other top programs. After an 80-yard march by the team, Jones bulldozed the final 3 yards into the end zone with 31 seconds left, delivering a heart-stopping 27-23 victory for St. Paul’s over Gulf Shores. Now with Lanning tracking top recruits like Jones, Oregon is focused on building the future.

It looks like Dan Lanning is using Oregon’s bye week the same way James Franklin did: balancing game prep with recruiting. But Franklin came under fire. At a press conference, he defended the strategy, stating, “I get it, you lose a game, we’re going to be second-guessed. We stay in and don’t go out recruiting and win that game. But then next year we’re not in the position we need to be in recruiting… people remember you didn’t go out on that bye week.” Even Franklin admitted his team had already spent significant time analyzing Oregon, but that focus may have contributed to the loss, and put his team under the microscope.

Drew Allar’s costly interception in double overtime sealed PSU’s fate against Oregon. Then the defense couldn’t stop key fourth-down plays, and the offense, ranked just 67th nationally at 397 YPG, never found its rhythm. Meanwhile, James Franklin’s attention appeared split. His 2026 recruiting class sits 16th in the nation with zero 5-star pledges, so the pressure to land elite talent looms large. “We spent a ton of time on Oregon this summer,” said Franklin. “Then we balanced our week between recruiting and preparing during the bye week.” Franklin’s challenge is clear: he needs to master the balance between future recruiting wins and present on-field results. Now, if Lanning can’t keep his winning streak alive against Indiana, he could end up facing the same kind of heat Franklin did.

More importantly, Dan Lanning doesn’t exactly need to hit the panic button on recruiting. Oregon’s 2026 class is already stacked, ranked No. 8 by On3, with 17 solid commitments. Headlining the group are five-star standouts like OT Immanuel Iheanacho, safety Jett Washington, and RB Tank Jones. So, with that kind of star power locked in, skipping practice time for recruiting trips might not be all that necessary right now. But time will tell how it all unfolds. Amid all the chaos, Lanning’s emotional message left Dante Moore completely stunned.

Dan Lanning’s heartfelt note to his QB

The Ducks marched into Beaver Stadium and muted the madness of PSU’s legendary White Out. In front of 111,000 screaming fans, the Ducks didn’t flinch. After the win, Oregon soared to No. 2 in the national rankings. But what happened after the game might’ve meant even more.

In the locker room, Dan Lanning spoke about his QB with a lot of emotion. “I love you,” Lanning said to Moore. “And it’s not just because of how well he played. It’s about the buy-in, the work, the way he treats his teammates, and the composure he shows.” The words are backed by Moore’s stellar production on the field.

Moore put on a masterclass in poise and precision under pressure. The sophomore carved up PSU’s defense, throwing for 248 yards while keeping his stat sheet free of turnovers. Through five games, he’s piled up 1,210 yards and 14 scores, putting him as a serious contender in the Heisman race. Now if he keeps leading Oregon to such wins, Moore could be the next Duck to take flight all the way to NY, just like Mariota before him.