Oregon fires offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after 21-10 loss at Illinois
Oregon fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer the day after a 21-10 loss at Illinois left the Ducks 4-3 and unranked. Coach Dan Lanning said in a school statement that a new direction was needed; Fox News's Outkick framed the loss as putting Lanning on the hot seat.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Oregon fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on Oct. 25, less than 24 hours after a 21-10 loss to Illinois, according to Newsweek, which said multiple reports and the school confirmed it. NewsweekN “the Ducks fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, according to multiple reports and confirmed by the school” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “Oregon fired Drew Mehringer on Oct. 25, cutting short his first year as offensive coordinator.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1In a written statement released by the school, head coach Dan Lanning thanked Mehringer and said the decision was "in the best interest of our football program, as I believe a new direction is necessary to move our offense forward." NewsweekN “This was a decision I felt was in the best interest of our football program, as I believe a new direction is necessary to move our offense forward.” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “Lanning addressed the move through a written statement from the school.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Mehringer, 38, joined Oregon in 2022 as tight ends coach, later added the co-offensive coordinator title, and took over the offense outright in 2026 when Will Stein left to become Kentucky's head coach. NewsweekN “The 38-year-old Mehringer had been with Oregon since 2022, starting as a tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “He took over the offense outright in 2026, when Will Stein left to become Kentucky’s head coach.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Newsweek said fans had wanted a change for weeks because the offense was less explosive than last year: in seven games under Mehringer this season Oregon averaged 33.1 points, 423.1 yards and a 35.1% third-down rate, against 39.2 points, 452.2 yards and 46.5% last year. NewsweekN “In seven games under Mehringer’s leadership, Oregon averaged 33.1 points and 423.1 yards per game, and its third-down efficiency dropped to 35.1%.”“a coach that fans had been wanting gone for weeks” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Oregon was ranked second in the preseason coaches poll but is now unranked at 4-3, 2-2 in the Big Ten; starting quarterback Dante Moore has missed three straight games with a concussion suffered against USC, and top receivers Jeremiah McClellan, Messiah Hampton and Evan Stewart also missed the Illinois game. NewsweekN “Oregon’s starting quarterback was concussed in the Week 4 game against USC and has missed three straight games since”“Top receivers Jeremiah McClellan, Messiah Hampton and Evan Stewart also missed the Illinois game.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas have played in Moore's place; Newsweek called both underwhelming, and said Illinois held Oregon scoreless over the final two quarters. NewsweekN “Quarterbacks Brock Thomas and Dylan Raiola have both been underwhelming filling in for Moore” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “Illinois held Oregon scoreless over the final two quarters.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Right · 1Fox News's Outkick described a season that "went off the rails": a close opener against Boise State, a loss to Oklahoma State, a 41-27 win at USC, a 17-15 home loss to UCLA with seven turnovers, and then the Illinois loss as 10.5-point favorites, where Oregon scored a first-drive touchdown and then only three points over the remaining 55 minutes. Fox NewsR “Somehow, incredibly, Oregon had seven turnovers in a 17-15 loss to an LA-based opponent.”“Despite entering the game as 10.5-point favorites, the Ducks had a touchdown on their first drive of the game, only to muster just three points over the remaining 55 minutes.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Outkick argued the results raise questions about Lanning's future, though it said a mid-season move is unlikely and noted his College Football Playoff appearances and two playoff wins last year. Fox NewsR “It’s unlikely the Ducks make a move this season, but it seems clear that Lanning could go from championship contender to on the hot seat in just a few months.”“the Ducks won two games in last year's tournament” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2The schedule is difficult: Oregon hosts ranked Northwestern next, then visits Ohio State on Nov. 7, hosts Michigan on Nov. 14 and finishes against Washington. Fox NewsR “They travel to Ohio State on Nov. 7, host Michigan on the 14th, then have to win a rivalry game against Washington to finish the season.” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “host ranked Northwestern for Week 9, then travel to ranked Ohio State for Week 10.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- News-driven reports on Mehringer's firing, using Lanning's statement and offensive statistics to explain it.
- Emphasis
- The coordinator's dismissal, offensive numbers versus last year, injuries and the remaining schedule.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not discuss Lanning's own job security or the UCLA turnovers.
- Charged language
- “Embarrassing Loss”“sobering wake-up call”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinionated column on a collapsing season, centering on Lanning's hot seat.
- Emphasis
- Season-long slide, Lanning's USC comments coming back to haunt him, discipline problems, roster spending and a hard remaining schedule.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Mehringer's firing or Lanning's statement about a new direction for the offense.
- Charged language
- “collapse continues”“hot seat”“went off the rails”“Not a great look”
What every side reports
- Oregon lost at Illinois, leaving it unranked and struggling after a high preseason ranking.
- Dante Moore's injury and backup quarterback play are part of the context.
- Oregon's next game is at home against ranked Northwestern, followed by a trip to Ohio State.
Where accounts differ
-
What the loss means for Oregon's staff
- Centre
- Newsweek reports the firing of Drew Mehringer as the response, with Lanning calling it necessary to move the offense forward.
- Right
- Fox News's Outkick does not mention the coordinator change and instead focuses on Lanning himself being on the hot seat.
-
Final score and Moore's absence
- Centre
- Newsweek reports 21-10 and says the Ducks lacked punch without Moore.
- Right
- Outkick says there is 'no excuse' for the season going off the rails despite the backup quarterback and receiver conduct issues.
Dan Lanning person
Lanning said in a school release that firing Mehringer was in the program's best interest and that a new direction is needed for the offense; Outkick argues he is under pressure.
“I thank Drew for his efforts and wish him all the best.” — Newsweek
“all of it's raising questions around Lanning's future in Eugene” — Fox News
Oregon Ducks organisation
The school confirmed the dismissal and released Lanning's statement; coverage describes a team that fell from preseason No. 2 to unranked at 4-3.
“according to multiple reports and confirmed by the school” — Newsweek
“Ranked second by the US LBM Coaches Poll to begin the year, the Oregon Ducks are now unranked and short an offensive coordinator.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
-
Oregon Fires Coach 1 Day After Embarrassing Loss to Illinois
Critical Reports the firing as a long-demanded fix after an embarrassing loss, backed by offensive statistics.
-
Dan Lanning Breaks Silence on Oregon Firing He Felt Was ‘Necessary’
Neutral Explains Lanning's written statement with context on the quarterback situation, stats and schedule.
Right1 article
-
Oregon Ducks' collapse continues, as loss to Illinois puts Dan Lanning on the hot seat in Eugene
Critical Columnist frames the loss as part of a season collapse that puts Lanning on the hot seat.
- 25 Oct 18:44 First NewsweekN Oregon Fires Coach 1 Day After Embarrassing Loss to Illinois
- 25 Oct 19:36 +53m NewsweekN Dan Lanning Breaks Silence on Oregon Firing He Felt Was ‘Necessary’
- 26 Oct 21:48 +27h 4m Fox NewsR Oregon Ducks' collapse continues, as loss to Illinois puts Dan Lanning on the hot seat in Eugene
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…