Oregon offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer versus USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson will be an undeniably large talking point going into the Ducks–Trojans showdown this season. Yet, as Ducks Wire notes, it’s less about Mehringer calling plays and more about him getting the most out of the quarterback he is coaching.
“For Mehringer, it’s the player that matters the most. Dante Moore may be able to do things that Bo Nix didn’t do, while Dillon Gabriel may have excelled at certain things that wouldn’t work with the Ducks’ 2026 personnel. The trick every year is finding what works for the current roster and turning that into a strength. That starts with the quarterback. As long as he is comfortable with the offense, you can start to build. But getting on the same page with him early on is what lays the groundwork for success.
“‘I think the guy with the ball, you have to see the game through his lens,’ Mehringer said this spring. ‘I think for us, what are we trying to do? We’re trying to put our players in the best positions possible, but make sure that they see the game the same way that we do. And really, do we see the game the same way that they do? If there needs to be growth, it can happen on both sides.’
“That’s an area where Oregon has an advantage going into 2026. Moore is returning for his second year as the starter and his third year with the “Oregon Offense” in general. Earlier this spring, Lanning confessed that Moore “is there” with the likes of Nix and Gabriel when it comes to mastery of the offense, able to make checks at the line, audible into and out of sets, and orchestrate the offense as a whole on a string like a marionette with a cannon for an arm.”
Dante Moore playing well is the biggest contribution Drew Mehringer can make to Oregon’s 2026 offense. Gary Patterson’s challenge is less about figuring out Mehringer, and more about finding a way to make Dante Moore struggle.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: New Oregon offensive coordinator brings clear goal into USC game
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