Nick Saban Praises Oregon, Dan Lanning Ahead of Ohio State Game

Week 7 features one of the most enticing matchups of the college football season, as the No. 3 ranked Oregon Ducks take on the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The winner of this contest will have a massive advantage in the Big Ten rankings.

Ohio State is currently a -3.5 favorite over Oregon, per FanDuel Sportsbook. It should be a close game throughout, as each team has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Although the Ducks had a rocky start to the season, they've looked fantastic in their previous three games.

Nearly all of the attention is on this matchup, as it's one of the most talked-about games for Week 7. With "College GameDay" visiting Eugene, Oregon for this matchup, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban appeared on the "Pat McAfee Show" to discuss the matchup.

During their discussion, Saban turned heads as he praised Dan Lanning's work with the Ducks. We won't know who he picks to win until Saturday morning. However, Saban loves the future outlook of the Oregon football program, claiming, "has done a great job here, and I think they're gonna be successful in the Big Ten."

The conference alignment was arguably the most beneficial for the Ducks than any other team in the nation. Playing in a more competitive conference like the Big Ten puts Oregon substantially more in the national spotlight. But now is time to prove they can hang with the best teams in the country.

Through five games, the Ducks rank 17th in the nation in scoring per game (37.8 points per game). Meanwhile, the defense has played brilliantly, as Oregon has one of the best passing defenses in the nation an rank 11th in the country in sacks (16 recorded sacks on the season).

That all stems from the work Lanning has done since taking over the head coaching job in 2021. Not only has the 38-year-old head coach created a winning atmosphere, but he's succeeded in recruiting top high school talent and landing stud players through the transfer portal.

It's hard to argue with Saban, as the Ducks are primed to be extremely competitive for years to come. However, Oregon has yet to win a National Championship. The program has a history of falling just short when it matters most.

In Week 7 against Ohio State, Oregon has an opportunity to change the narrative. A win over the Buckeyes would be massive for this team as they'd likely move up to the No. 2 spot in the rankings, and possibly become the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

Related: Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning Reveals Keys to Beating Ohio State