Canzano: Sorry, USC, but the Oregon Ducks are locked in

"I love this dude," Dan Lanning said.

Dante Moore and Dan Lanning talk with Fox after the game. (Photo: Naji Saker)

Here was Dan Lanning in the moments after Oregon throttled Minnesota on Friday night, 42-13, with his arm around Dante Moore on the field at Autzen Stadium.

Lanning was grinning.

Moore was beaming.

“I love this dude,” UO’s coach said.

I’m old enough to remember when Lanning couldn’t win the ‘big one’ and Moore was a bench warmer at UCLA.

USC is next for the Ducks. Oregon gets eight days to prepare for the arrival of Lincoln Riley and the merry men of Southern Cal in Eugene. But something much bigger is happening, isn’t it?