It isn't wise to poke the bear, especially when coming into Autzen Stadium as a double-digit underdog. That's a lesson the Oregon Ducks have provided to opponents in the past, and after Michigan Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham's comments earlier this week, the Ducks might issue a reminder this weekend.
Whittingham, who is enduring a rocky first season in Ann Arbor, credited Oregon coach Dan Lanning's prowess on the recruiting trail since he arrived in Eugene. The Ducks have landed top-10 classes in each full season under Lanning, and top-5 classes in the past three cycles.
Yes, Oregon has donors and resources that allow the Ducks to recruit the best talent across the nation with a hefty dollar figure attached, but that is just part of the NIL
world that exists in college sports these days. Oregon has become a massive brand, and it certainly helps attract talent in recruiting.
"(Lanning) is an outstanding football coach, defensive-minded coach; that's his background, but a tireless recruiter," Whittingham said on Monday. "He really does a great job recruiting. It doesn't hurt that you have $50 million at your disposal to, in essence, to outbid everybody. Not everybody, but a lot of people. But that's not his fault. That's a credit. I mean, that's a credit to their program and their dedication and desire to win and the support they have."
While he did loft some praise in Lanning's direction, Whittingham's unprompted "outbid everybody" comment was a bit jarring, given that Michigan has its own prominent donors and a roster exceeding $30 million. Oregon does have one of the most expensive rosters in the country this season, with many estimates valuing the roster over $40 million, but the direction of the two programs couldn't be more different.
The Ducks have overcome a slow start and a slew of injuries, firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and bouncing back with ranked wins over Northwestern and Ohio State to reinsert themselves into the playoff discussion. Michigan, meanwhile, boasts one of the worst offenses in the country and fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck after a stunning 15-6 home loss to rival Michigan State. Whittingham has come under fire for his lack of embrace for Michigan culture, saying there are "no more trophy games" on the schedule.
Lanning was asked about Whittingham's comments on Wednesday and chose to take the high road, but did point to where some of the money for roster building in Ann Arbor might be going.
“I’ve got nothing to say to coach Whit other than I think he’s an unbelievable coach," Lanning said. "I get it. They’re spending more of their money right now on their coaches that they’re letting go, so maybe it makes it hard to sign players. But I know they’ve signed a couple of guys that we weren’t able to compete with what they decided to do, and maybe a lot of that money is tied up for them in another player. I don’t know. But coach Whittingham is an unbelievable coach. He’s a Hall of Fame coach. I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
One of those players is quarterback Bryce Underwood, who the Wolverines signed as a five-star recruit. Underwood is reportedly receiving more than $3 million this season, but he was benched a month ago and hasn't had a role since, while Tommy Carr has started at quarterback.
Lanning and Whittingham have a history together on the field, coaching against each other in the Pac-12 when Whittingham was at Utah. The coaches appear to have great respect for each other, but the comments around Oregon's recruiting budget advantage over a national brand like Michigan raised some eyebrows and will be talked about heading into Saturday's matchup.
Oregon and Michigan are set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. PST from Autzen Stadium on Nov. 14.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Dan Lanning responds to Michigan's Kyle Whittingham on Oregon's NIL spending
