EUGENE, Ore. — Multiple reports indicated on Wednesday that Dan Lanning, University of Oregon’s head football coach, would be the top target to replace Nick Saban at Alabama following his retirement.
However, Lanning said he isn’t going anywhere.
"If you're scared your coach is leaving…then come play for us…the Ducks aren't going anywhere…and I'm not leaving," Lanning posted in a video on X, formally Twitter, Thursday morning.
Lanning joined Oregon in 2021 and received a contract extension through 2028 last summer. As part of the extension, his buyout to leave Oregon increased to $20 million – and made him the second-highest paid football coach in the Pac-12.
When reports broke Wednesday that Saban, who led Alabama to six national championships, is retiring, Lanning's name was quick to be out there.
ESPN College Football Senior Writer Pete Thamel included Lanning on a list of projected targets for Alabama, along with Washington's Kalen DeBoer, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Penn State's James Franklin, Florida State's Mike Norvell and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman.
Brett McMurphy of Action Network also reported that "Oregon's Dan Lanning is expected to be [the] top target to replace Saban, according to a source.
Lanning shot down those rumors on Thursday, saying that "the grass isn’t always greener, in fact the grass is damn green in Eugene."
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