Analyst weighs in on if Dan Lanning’s’ Oregon’ snowball effect could be natty bound

Dan Lanning’s Oregon has taken on a new trajectory. The program’s early-season dominance has sparked what many describe as a “snowball effect” that could push the Ducks into the national title race.

Oregon opened 2025 with two convincing victories, starting with a 59-13 rout of FCS No. 2 Montana State. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 213 yards in the opener, while Whittington carried the load on the ground and Benson led the receivers.

The following week in Eugene, the Ducks delivered one of their most lopsided results in recent memory, dismantling Oklahoma State 69-3. Oregon scored all its points in the first three quarters and could have reached 90 had it kept attacking.

Also read: Is Dan Lanning’s ‘Set the Standard’ Mentality the Difference Maker in 69-3 Blowout against Oklahoma?

The win lifted the Ducks from No. 6 to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 and placed them at the top of the Big Ten standings.

Rivals’ Justin Hopkins captured the shift in momentum, writing,

“I think Oregon is having a snowball effect, but not in the bad way. I think the snowball effect we’re seeing is the buy in from these players. You can see they were pushed and challenged all Spring and Fall…These guys are all elevating the level of play because they are doing the little things that make good teams great.”

Hopkins pointed to the program’s depth, noting players understand their starting jobs are at risk because “the guy behind them might be just as good.”

Hopkins added,

“With the impressive wins it is really hard not to allow your expectations to shift… it’s really difficult not to get excited based on what we are seeing on the field. Sure the real test is in Happy Valley in a couple of weeks but Oregon so far has aced the eyeball test.”

Before that trip to Penn State, Oregon faces Northwestern and a challenging Big Ten slate featuring Oregon State, Indiana, Wisconsin, and USC.