"‘It was a heavyweight fight’: Coach Dan Lanning and Oregon reflect on their victory over Ohio State"

Dan Lanning entered the postgame press room looking like a man who had just been joyfully swept up by tens of thousands of ecstatic fans—smiling, sweaty, and with a sparkle in his eye.

“Anyone got a heart rate monitor?” he joked.

It was that kind of game, and that kind of moment, for Oregon football and its third-year head coach. Lanning had just secured the biggest win of his Ducks career on Saturday, when No. 3 Oregon edged out No. 2 Ohio State, 32-31, in front of 60,129 fans at Autzen Stadium—a record-breaking crowd for the venue. Many of them rushed the field after the final whistle.

And that final whistle came at the end of a nail-biting finish. The Ducks (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) and Buckeyes (5-1, 2-1) traded leads seven times, with four changes in the second half and three in the fourth quarter alone.

The game was ultimately decided by a 19-yard field goal from Atticus Sappington with 1:47 left on the clock.

“What an incredible atmosphere tonight,” Lanning said. “We talked all week about our players taking jabs. It’s not about landing haymakers.

“This game is emotional, and when you’re in moments like this, where you want to feel nothing but joy, the biggest emotion is often relief.”

The postgame scene was electric, with Oregon players describing it as chaotic even by Autzen’s wild standards. For cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, who was part of Washington’s run to the College Football Playoff title game last season, it was a memory he’ll cherish.

“Being a part of a win like this is something special,” Muhammad said. “It’s the kind of thing you dream about. You write it down as a goal at the start of the year. This is one of those moments.”

The victory tied Oregon’s highest-ever ranked win, matching their 2015 Rose Bowl triumph over No. 2 Florida State.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for a 27-yard score, said it was a thrilling experience. “Winning is fun,” Gabriel said. “There’s a lot of joy in winning. This is a huge step in the right direction for us because we beat a great team. We’re gonna enjoy it tonight, but tomorrow’s a new day—we’ve got recovery, and then it’s time to get back to work.”

Gabriel admitted to being on edge watching Ohio State’s final drive, which looked like it might end with a game-winning field goal. The Buckeyes got within range but were pushed back to the 43-yard line by a pass interference call. Three plays later, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard scrambled as time ran out.

“That was a heavyweight fight,” Lanning said. “When you’re up against a great team, you have to be able to win the tight ones. We played aggressive, and we executed in critical moments.”

Up next for the Ducks is a Friday night game at Purdue, and Muhammad noted that while the team will savor the win, the celebration won’t last long.

“We’ll enjoy this one tonight, but tomorrow we’re right back at it,” Muhammad said. “We’ve got a short week, so it’s on to Purdue.”