Dan Lanning is for the people.

It’s one of his many calling cards, from showcasing his day-to-day coaching style with “Ducks vs Them” videos to always looking for pro-fan opportunities for his program.

In fact, just seven seconds into his online press conference to address the Ducks’ College Football Playoff draw against James Madison University, he took the opportunity to discuss the kind of atmosphere he expects on Saturday.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity to host a playoff game at Autzen Stadium,” Lanning said. “It’s going to be a really unique atmosphere that didn’t really exist in the last 20 years.”

Well, to bring that atmosphere to life, it requires students.

Hosting a playoff game five days before Christmas Eve, a good eight days after students’ final exams have wrapped up, isn’t the ideal fan-forward environment for most schools. Most out-of-state students are either reluctant or unable to move their flights around to attend the game — student tickets were going for $36 if you have the Duck Sports Pass.

That, of course, leaves in-state students and those willing to travel for the game — which includes a 21.5 point spread in favor of the Ducks — to experience a first in Autzen Stadium history.

For some, the decision was easy.

“There was no way I was going to miss this,” sophomore UO student Jay Mitowsi said. “This might only happen once in my time at UO, plus it’s only a few extra days, and I can just fly down when it’s done … I only ever booked my flight home for after a playoff game just in case.”

Others, like junior student Matthew Dunn, who had been studying abroad for most of the term and football season, admitted they were excited about the chance to go to one more game this year.

“It might be cold; it might be rainy and wet,” Dunn said. “But like, what’s the alternative? Miss it? That’s not going to happen.”

Lanning echoed a similar statement regarding the weather.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere. You know, the 10-day forecast around here never necessarily holds true, so we’ll see what that looks like as we prepare ourselves,” Lanning said. “But one thing I know I can count on is our awesome fans to make this a really fun experience for our student athletes. And we went out there on senior day, and I remember talking to some of our players saying, ‘I hope this isn’t the last opportunity we get to play on this field.’ Well, now all those seniors get an opportunity to do it one more time here, which is really special.”

Others, like Alec Hansen, a 2024 graduate who works across the country but will be home in Beaverton for the Holidays, said he’s excited for the chance to go to a game this season.

“I can’t remember the last season I didn’t attend a game,” Hansen said. “James Madison or not, Autzen is perfect.”

Lanning agrees.

“Our fans are going to show out for this game,” Lanning said. “There’s zero doubt in my mind that they’ll be there. If it’s not a student, it’ll be another Oregon fan that’s in there, but they don’t want to miss the opportunity. To see the one playoff game in Autzen Stadium, that hasn’t happened before. So I think we’ll have a lot of fans there ready to support it and ready to see that myself.”