The rope-a-dope Dan Lanning executed on the college football world in their 51-34 win over James Madison was brilliant. The game was never in doubt. The Ducks landed jabs throughout, played a bunch of players and walked away with a first-round victory.
They landed haymakers and came away without a scratch. In the locker room afterward Lanning got to play the "we didn't finish" card with his team while leaving the impression with the pundits, fans and next opponent that his defense was weak and exploitable.
Lanning played possum. Oregon finished the game with third and fourth-string players dotting the lineup as the Dukes scored three late touchdowns to turn a blowout into a deceptively close but yet still comfortable three-score win.