QuickTake:

Nine months after promoting Drew Mehringer to offensive coordinator, Dan Lanning is making a change following Oregon's dismal start to the 2026 season.

Oregon announced Sunday that it has fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer following the Ducks’ 21-10 loss to Illinois.

“Drew has been a valued member of this staff since 2022, and I am appreciative of everything he’s done for Oregon,” Oregon 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.”

Mehringer was promoted from co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in January to replace the departed Will Stein and oversaw an offense that has sputtered in the last month. Oregon has scored 15, 17 and 10 points in its last three games, all without injured starting quarterback Dante Moore.

The Ducks gained 426 yards in Saturday’s loss to Illinois, but managed just 10 points, went 4-for-15 on third down and were shut out in the second half as Illinois scored 21 unanswered points.

The loss dropped Oregon to 4-3, a stunning fall for a team that entered the season ranked No. 2 in the country.

Following the game, Lanning was asked directly whether he would consider a change at offensive coordinator.

“I think all things are on the table for us to make sure that we’re the best version of ourselves, and we’re currently not that,” Lanning said. “That’s very clear.”

Less than 24 hours later, he made the change.

Mehringer had been with Lanning since the coach’s arrival at Oregon in 2022 and helped develop tight ends Terrance Ferguson into an NFL second-round draft pick and Kenyon Sadiq into a first-round pick.

But the drop-off from last season has been significant. Under Stein in 2025, Oregon averaged 35.4 points against FBS competition. This season, the Ducks are averaging just 24.7 points in six games against FBS opponents.

Oregon has not announced who will replace Mehringer or assume play-calling duties. The Ducks return home Saturday to face Northwestern before traveling to Ohio State on Nov. 7.

Tyson Alger covered the Ducks for The Oregonian and The Athletic before branching out on his own to create and run The I-5 Corridor. He brings more than a decade of experience on the University of Oregon sports beat. He has covered everything from Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy-winning season to the Ducks’ first year in the Big 10.