Oregon Names New Offensive Play-Caller Ahead of Northwestern Matchup

Northwestern football now knows who will be calling the plays for Oregon when the Wildcats travel to Eugene for Saturday’s Big Ten matchup.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning announced Monday that offensive analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson will take over primary play-calling responsibilities following the dismissal of offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer.

The decision comes after Oregon’s disappointing 21-10 loss to Illinois, which dropped the Ducks to 4-3 and continued a stretch of offensive struggles.

However, Johnson is no stranger to running an offense.

The veteran coach brings more than 30 years of coaching experience, including previous offensive coordinator stops at Southern Miss, Louisiana, Colorado, Michigan State and Wyoming.

Johnson also previously worked alongside Lanning at Georgia, giving the two coaches an established relationship heading into this transition.

During his time at Louisiana from 2011 to 2015, Johnson helped develop an offense that consistently ranked among the Sun Belt’s most productive units, particularly in the red zone.

He later served as Michigan State’s offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2023, including the Spartans’ impressive 11-2 campaign in 2021, when running back Kenneth Walker III emerged as one of college football’s best players.

Johnson’s most recent offensive coordinator position came at Wyoming, where he spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons before joining Oregon’s staff ahead of 2026.

Now, he gets another opportunity to lead an offense, this time in front of Oregon’s home crowd at Autzen Stadium.

Lanning believes Johnson’s experience and fresh perspective could provide the spark the Ducks desperately need.

Although Johnson will lead the play-calling efforts, Lanning emphasized that Oregon’s offensive staff will continue working collaboratively.

The challenge facing Johnson is significant.

Oregon has scored just 42 combined points over its last three games, averaging 14 points per contest during that stretch.

The Ducks have also been dealing with several injuries, including the absence of starting quarterback Dante Moore, whom Lanning does not expect to return this season.

With limited time to prepare, Johnson will need to find ways to improve Oregon’s offensive production while working with a unit that has struggled to establish consistency.

For Northwestern, the coaching change adds another layer of uncertainty to an already challenging road matchup.

Defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle and his unit will now have to prepare for an offense that could feature different formations, play-calling tendencies and strategies under Johnson.

That could be especially important for a Northwestern defense that has occasionally surrendered explosive plays this season.

However, the Wildcats have also demonstrated an ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks and create turnovers, including forcing three takeaways in Saturday’s 42-14 victory over Rutgers.

Northwestern enters the matchup at 6-1 and riding a four-game winning streak, while Oregon will be looking to turn its disappointing season around.

Although introducing a new play-caller in the middle of a season presents challenges, it can also provide an opportunity for a fresh start.

Johnson has the experience to make adjustments, and Oregon still possesses enough talent to challenge opposing defenses.

For Northwestern, the key will be remaining disciplined and prepared for whatever changes Johnson introduces.

Saturday’s matchup will be the first major test of Oregon’s new offensive direction, and the Wildcats will be looking to ensure that the Ducks’ fresh start doesn’t come at their expense.