Dan Lanning mentioned the opportunity to finish on several different occasions during his teleconference call on Sunday.

The Ducks will close out the 2023 season in the Fiesta Bowl against unbeaten Liberty. Oregon was one game away from a Pac-12 title and the College Football Playoff, but a 34-31 loss to Washington instead has the Ducks playing in what ultimately amounts to a consolation game.

And, given the draw, there was immediate concern Oregon might be wholly disinterested in the game.

Other New Year’s Six bowls feature juicy matchups — Ole Miss-Penn State in the Peach Bowl, Georgia-Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Will the Ducks want to get up for a CUSA team after finishing so excruciatingly close to its goals?

“Just got done meeting with our players not too long ago. Our guys are thrilled and excited about the opportunity,” Lanning said. “One of the best things about bowl games is the opportunity to go finish this season with a highlight. And our guys are really pumped about this game in particular.”

Lanning also mentioned Tulane’s Cotton Bowl win over USC last season as a reason to take

Some might not fully buy Lanning’s words. But star quarterback Bo Nix has already committed to playing in the game. Nix told his teammates during a team meeting on Sunday he was all-in.

Lanning said other plays are in the same boat, though he’ll let them make their own announcements.

“These guys are excited to go play this game,” Lanning said. “Our entire team is excited to go out there one last time and cap off an elite season for us.”

The Ducks entered the Pac-12 Championship Game at 11-1. They’d rolled just about everyone on the schedule this season not named Washington. And a title rematch with the Huskies gave Oregon an opportunity to avenge its only defeat.

The Ducks opened the game flat. Washington raced out to a 20-3 lead. Oregon battled back with 21 unanswered to take a brief lead in the second half, but it couldn’t seal the deal.

“Our guys have seen adversity before and they’ve experienced loss before and they’ve always responded. They’ve always put their best foot forward and worked really, really hard,” Lanning said. “I’m anticipating nothing different from our guys moving forward.

“… I have a lot of confidence in this team and a lot of confidence in the way that they’ve worked all season. And I know how these guys operate and how they want to finish.”