Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has never been shy about voicing his concerns with the College Football Playoff, and as the postseason spotlight grows brighter, his stance has become even more pointed. Ahead of the No. 5 Ducks’ Orange Bowl matchup against No. 4 Texas Tech, Lanning made it clear that he believes the CFP, and selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek, should seriously consider a structural change to better reward top seeds.
Home-Field Advantage For Higher Seeds
At the center of Lanning’s argument is the belief that higher-seeded teams deserve a tangible on-field reward beyond a first-round bye. Specifically, he believes the College Football Playoff should grant home-field advantage to the higher seed rather than sending teams to neutral sites.
"“We’re really excited to be going to the Orange Bowl, but this game should be played at Texas Tech,” Lanning told reporters. “There should be a home-field advantage for them.”"Dan Lanning
While neutral-site games have long been part of college football’s postseason tradition, Lanning believes that approach no longer aligns with a Playoff format designed to reward excellence across an entire season.
Under the current CFP structure, the top four teams earn a bye, but they lose the opportunity to play in front of their home crowd. Lanning’s comments suggest that the CFP, led by Yurachek, should reevaluate whether that tradeoff truly benefits the sport or its most deserving teams.
Lanning’s stance is informed by firsthand experience. Oregon finished the 2024 regular season 13–0 and earned the No. 1 overall seed, only to suffer a lopsided loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Despite dominating all season, the Ducks never had the chance to leverage Autzen Stadium, one of the most difficult venues in college football, as a postseason advantage. He never mentioned how it could've or would've changed the outcome against the Buckeyes, but it is a valid point and changes things drastically.
For Lanning, that reality underscores a flaw in the system. A bye week is valuable, but it doesn’t replicate the impact of a raucous home crowd, environmental familiarity, or travel challenges for the opposing team.
Home-field advantage has always been one of college football’s defining characteristics. Crowd noise disrupts communication, alters snap timing, and creates pressure that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. Weather, altitude, and routine all matter, and Lanning believes the CFP should embrace those elements rather than remove them for at least the second round.
CFP Committee and Yurachek Should Take Notice
Lanning’s argument extends beyond Oregon or this specific matchup. A scenario like a warm-weather team traveling to Columbus in December to face Ohio State would create a legitimate competitive edge, one earned through regular-season performance. That type of reward, he argues, is consistent with what college football has always valued.
In the case of Texas Tech, hosting Oregon would provide a meaningful advantage. The Red Raiders boast one of the nation’s elite defenses. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has been a force all season, recording over 100 tackles, four interceptions, and seven forced fumbles. Could you imagine the energy this unit would get running around between the lines in the home stadium in Lubbock? With a home crowd behind them, that defensive intensity would only be amplified. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore would face a far more hostile environment, while Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton would benefit from the comfort of familiar surroundings.
As more coaches publicly question the Playoff’s structure, pressure continues to mount on CFP leadership. Lanning’s message to Hunter Yurachek and the selection committee is straightforward: if the CFP truly wants to reward the best teams, a bye week alone isn’t enough.
Granting home-field advantage to higher seeds would preserve what makes college football unique while adding fairness and authenticity to the postseason. This is apart of the NFL's playoff structure and something college football should adopt as well. For Lanning, it’s not about Oregon, it’s about improving the sport as a whole.