Once we get to this part of the postseason, seemingly everyone stems from the same coaching tree. From Curt Cignetti, to Mario Cristobal, to Pete Golding, to Dan Lanning, all four of them worked under Nick Saban at Alabama. While Kirby Smart has emerged as Saban's greatest protege, Lanning is well on his way to being just that under his former boss at Georgia. Lanning was fond of his time in Athens.
Ahead of the Peach Bowl vs. Indiana, he caught up with FOX 5 Sports' Olive Whitmire to discuss this.
"I learned some unbelievable lessons from Coach Smart. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. The State of Georgia and the University of Georgia were unbelievable to me and my family. We loved this place, and we'll be forever grateful for the opportunity it provided us."
The last part of his remarks on Georgia and Smart should have everyone in Athens feeling a bit easier.
"Oh, probably as important as any years in my career. My year as a GA at Alabama would also be right up there. But my four years at Georgia was on-field training, lot of learning, getting to watch one of the best coaches in college football, if not the best coach in college football operate. So it was a great blessing for me and certainly glad I got to be a part of it."
Here is everything that Lanning had to say to Whitmire about his time well-spent working at Georgia.
"I learned some unbelievable lessons from Coach Smart. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him."
— Olivia Whitmire (@omwhitmireTV) January 8, 2026
Oregon's Dan Lanning tells me that his year as a GA at Alabama along with the 4 that he spent at UGA under Kirby Smart were some of the most important years of his coaching career🏈 pic.twitter.com/QvkFBgLauM
Let's now take a few minutes to unpack what Lanning really meant in his comments about Smart here.
Dan Lanning has the same intensity that has made Kirby Smart so special
If all goes according to plan, Smart will remain the greatest protege of Saban, and Lanning will emerge as the best bona-fide branch stemming off Smart's coaching tree. All three coaches are defensive-minded. While Smart and Saban are former defensive backs, Lanning specializes in linebacker play. What they all share is an intensity about them that burns so bright and galvanizes.
When Lanning took the Oregon job four years ago, it seemed like a weird fit. We all in Dawg Nation knew he would be great one day, but Lanning kind of came out of nowhere to take that job. Prior to his great run in Eugene, Oregon kind of felt like a stepping stone job for him, one that he could work on his craft before a better gig he had ties to, like Alabama, would open up. He is not going anywhere...
What Lanning has to overcome is history at Eugene. There have been many excellent Oregon teams over the last 30 years, but the Ducks have never won a national championship in their history. They have all the financial resources at their disposal to make it happen. Phil Knight is one helluva booster. What helps Lanning on his quest to be the first is he has the same fiery passion as his two mentors.
As long as his team can play with composure vs. Indiana on Friday night, they will have a real chance.