Dan Lanning wants to put a large inflatable Oregon Duck in Wisconsin’s Lake Mendota

Oregon HC Dan Lanning wants to put a large inflatable Oregon Duck in Lake Mendota

A primary storyline at 2024 Big Ten media days has been the conference’s West Coast newcomers, highlighted by the Oregon Ducks.

The Ducks are expected to contend to win the conference in 2024. They enter the season ranked No. 3 in the nation in ESPN’s SP+ and are the popular No. 2 pick in the Big Ten behind only Ohio State. The consensus is the Ducks are well-equipped to avoid any growing pains upon joining the now-18-program conference.

Related: The 6 most likely scenarios for Wisconsin’s 2024 football season

Head coach Dan Lanning and his program are not shying away from the spotlight at Big Ten media days. The program made its presence known from the start — first by sending a large inflatable Oregon Duck down the White River through downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Lanning addressed that move, saying “I hope we get to take that big floating duck to all our away games.”

Connecting the dots, Lanning and the top-ranked Ducks are set to visit the Wisconsin Badgers on Nov. 16. That is a few months before Lake Mendota and Lake Monona freeze for the winter, allowing Oregon the opportunity to execute Lanning’s goal.

 

Wisconsin will need to play a nearly perfect defensive game to contend with star quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the high-flying Oregon offense. That defense may begin with ensuring that no inflatable ducks make it on to either lake in the city in advance of the game.

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