Oregon HC Dan Lanning takes subtle jab at Kirby Smart over comments on Phil Knight-sponsored NIL program

Dan Lanning had a light-hearted yet pointed response to Georgia coach Kirby Smart's comments about Oregon's NIL program, which suggested Nike co-founder Phil Knight is heavily supporting an NIL fund that has attracted top recruits to Oregon. At SEC Media Days, Smart joked:

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"I wish I could get some of that NIL money that [Knight is] sharing with Dan Lanning."

Lanning didn’t miss a beat when he had his chance to reply on "The Pat McAfee Show." The Oregon coach, who served as defensive coordinator under Smart at Georgia back in 2019 to 2021, quipped:

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“I think it’s impressive that guys like Kirby have been signing the number one class in the nation without any NIL money this entire time. If you want to be a top-10 team in college football, you better have great support. We have that,” he added with a laugh.

This exchange can be seen as a friendly rivalry between the two coaches.

Since taking over at Oregon, Lanning has posted a 22-5 record, leading the Ducks to two straight AP top-25 finishes and a perfect 2-0 in bowl games. This offseason, he brought in former Oklahoma WB Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore who transferred from UCLA and Texas A&M transfer Evan Stewart. According to On3, Gabriel has a NIL valuation of $1.2 million.

What's the deal between Phil Knight and Dan Lanning's Oregon?

Oregon Ducks football is riding high, thanks in part to the deep pockets and support of Nike co-founder and Oregon alumnus Phil Knight. According to ESPN's Rick Neuheisel, he's provided coach Dan Lanning with nearly "unlimited NIL resources" to make the Ducks national champions.

His relationship with Lanning has further propelled Oregon's ambitions. The Ducks coach often emphasizes their shared values and frequent communication. Speaking at the Big Ten Media Days, Lanning said:

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“I’ll tell you this — Oregon is Nike and Nike is Oregon. You’re talking about an athlete and his coach founding a company and the story of that. … There’s a lot of things we want to build our program off of based off those principles that Nike really created."

As the Ducks transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, they’re adopting the mantra "Mighty Different," inspired by Nike’s innovative spirit. With Knight's backing and successful transfer portal additions, Lanning’s team may be the one to watch out for in the 2024 college football season.

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