Oregon Fires Coach 1 Day After Embarrassing Loss to Illinois

It was a move Oregon fans had been clamoring for for weeks, and the team finally pulled the trigger.

Less than 24 hours after their loss to unranked Illinois, the Ducks fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, according to multiple reports and confirmed by the school.

The 38-year-old Mehringer had been with Oregon since 2022, starting as a tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator before being promoted to OC full time this year. But Mehringer had come under fire in recent weeks with the team’s offense not looking as explosive as it did last year.

"Drew has been a valued member of this staff since 2022, and I am appreciative of everything he's done for Oregon," head coach Dan Lanning said in a release. "He played a tremendous role in what this program has accomplished over the last several seasons.

“This was a decision I felt was in the best interest of our football program, as I believe a new direction is necessary to move our offense forward. I thank Drew for his efforts and wish him all the best."

Saturday’s loss to Illinois — another 4-3 team that’s lost to Purdue, Duke, and Ohio State — was a sobering wake-up call for Lanning that something had to change.

Despite star quarterback Dante Moore being sidelined with a concussion, the Oregon offense just seemed to lack its normal punch. Quarterbacks Brock Thomas and Dylan Raiola have both been underwhelming filling in for Moore, and the rest of the offense lacked the pop necessary to compete with other high-powered offenses.

In seven games under Mehringer’s leadership, Oregon averaged 33.1 points and 423.1 yards per game, and its third-down efficiency dropped to 35.1%. All three categories are far below the 39.2 points and 452.2 yards per game, and the Ducks’ 46.5% third-down efficiency.