Oregon fires offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after team scored just 10 points in loss to Illinois

Oregon's College Football Playoff hopes died Saturday after the team's surprising loss to Illinois on Saturday. A day later, the team started to make offensive changes.

Dan Lanning announced Sunday that he fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer. Oregon scored just 10 points in its loss to the Illini and has failed to score 20 points in each of its last three games.

"Drew has been a valued member of this staff since 2022, and I am appreciative of everything he's done for Oregon," Lanning said in a statement. "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."

Oregon did not immediately name Mehringer's replacement.

Mehringer was promoted to replace Will Stein after the 2025 season when Stein became the head coach at Kentucky. The Wildcats are 7-1 and one of two teams with just one conference loss in the SEC.

The transition from Stein to Mehringer has been rough, even when Dante Moore was healthy. Moore has missed the last three games after suffering a concussion in Oregon's win over USC. But backup Dylan Raiola and third-stringer Brock Thomas have struggled in his absence.

Raiola came to Oregon as a two-year starter at Nebraska. He's averaging fewer than seven yards per pass attempt.

After a Week 1 win over Boise State, Oregon lost at Oklahoma State. After the game, Cowboys defenders admitted the Ducks were tipping plays based on the way Oregon's offensive linemen would line up.

Things have not gotten any better since. An offense that averaged 6.9 yards a play in 2025 is averaging nearly a yard fewer per snap. The defense gave up 4.4 yards a play a season ago. Opposing offenses are getting 5 yards a play in 2026.

The Ducks are also turning it over nearly twice a game after committing 15 turnovers in 15 games in 2025.

Mehringer had been a part of Lanning's staff since the former Georgia assistant was hired as the Ducks' head coach in January of 2022 and started as the team's tight ends coach before serving as the team's co-offensive coordinator in 2025.

Oregon, now 4-3, hosts No. 24 Northwestern in Week 9 before traveling to No. 2 Ohio State in Week 10.