'The season ends Jan. 1': Dan Lanning reiterates CFP overhaul - ESPN

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Oregon coach Dan Lanning reiterated his desire to see the college football season end Jan. 1 every year, not only to fix the sport's calendar but also to decrease the long layoff between games for playoff teams with a bye.

During the final news conference Wednesday before the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl, Lanning was asked about what changes could be made to alleviate issues that have affected multiple CFP teams, including coordinators taking head coaching jobs and the transfer portal opening Jan. 2.

«Every playoff game should be played every single weekend until you finish the season,» Lanning said. «Even if it means we start Week 0 or you eliminate a bye, the season ends Jan. 1, and then the portal opens, then coaches that have to move on to their next opportunities get to move to their next opportunities.»

Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein (Kentucky) and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi (California) are juggling their responsibilities for the Ducks and their new schools. So is Ohio State offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, the new coach at USF.

«Our national championship game this year is Jan. 19, and that's really hard to envision as a coach that's going out and trying to join a new program and start a staff,» Lanning said. «It's hard for players to understand what continuity looks like and where they're going to be at and to manage that with visits, the portal, everything else that exists. The clear way to do that is to bump the season up and make sure these playoff games happen a lot faster.»

Lanning has said multiple times that playing in the first round last week against James Madison helped his team stay in rhythm,