Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has never been shy about voicing his concerns with the current College Football Playoff format. As the postseason spotlight grows brighter, his frustration has only intensified. Ahead of the No. 5 Ducks’ highly anticipated Orange Bowl matchup against No. 4 Texas Tech, Lanning once again made his stance crystal clear, questioning whether the system truly rewards the best teams.
Why Does the Current CFP Format Fall Short?
Lanning believes the game should not be played at a neutral site, but instead hosted by Texas Tech, the higher seed.
“We’re really excited to be going to the Orange Bowl, but this game should be played at Texas Tech….There should be a home-field advantage for them” Lanning told reporters.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning says CFP format should favor Texas Tech, and deserve a home game
“We’re really excited to be going to the Orange Bowl, but this game should be played at Texas Tech….There should be a home-field advantage for them” #GoDucks #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/wpJcHa0OEH
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) December 23, 2025
Under the current CFP structure, the top four seeds receive a first-round bye, but their reward comes with a drawback: no opportunity to play in front of their home crowd. While neutral-site games aren’t necessarily a disadvantage, they certainly don’t provide the same edge that a true home environment offers, especially for programs that earned the right to be among the top four teams in the nation.
Lanning and Oregon understand this frustration better than most. The Ducks finished the 2024 season a perfect 13–0 and earned the No. 1 overall seed, only to suffer a 20-point loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Despite their dominant regular season, Oregon never had the chance to leverage Autzen Stadium as a postseason advantage.
Lanning’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among coaches that the Playoff format needs another incentive for earning a top-four seed beyond a bye week. Home-field advantage has always been one of the most impactful elements in college football. Crowd noise disrupts offensive communication, affects snap cadences, and creates mental pressure that doesn’t show up on stat sheets. Environmental factors, like weather, altitude, and familiarity, also play a major role.
A clear example would be a warm-weather team like Miami traveling to Columbus, Ohio, in December to face Ohio State. Cold temperatures, hostile fans, and unfamiliar conditions could easily shift momentum in favor of the Buckeyes. That type of advantage is part of what makes college football unique, and rewarding teams for excellence should include that edge.
How Would Home-Field Advantage Impact the Game?
In this case, Texas Tech would benefit significantly from playing at home. Facing the Red Raiders is difficult enough, but doing so in their stadium against one of the nation’s elite defenses would be even tougher. According to PFSN, Texas Tech’s defense is graded at an elite 95.6, ranking fourth among all college football teams. At the heart of that unit is linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who has recorded over 100 tackles, four interceptions, and seven forced fumbles this season.
With a fired-up home crowd behind him, Rodriguez flying around the field would pose an even greater challenge for any opponent. That environment could impact Oregon’s highly regarded quarterback Dante Moore, who carries a strong 85.9 PFSN impact grade. Meanwhile, Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, still managing some injuries and graded at 81.3, would likely feel far more comfortable operating in familiar surroundings.
Lanning is fully aware that these advantages would benefit the other team, which makes his stance even more respectable. His comments aren’t about gaining an edge for Oregon; they’re about fairness and what’s best for the sport.
As more coaches openly criticize the Playoff structure, change may eventually follow. Lanning’s argument is a compelling one: if college football wants to reward its best teams truly, a first-round bye shouldn’t be the only prize. Home-field advantage could be the missing piece and a step toward a better, more authentic College Football Playoff.
