Preseason College Football Rankings 2011: Why Oregon Is Armed for BCS Title Game

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The Oregon Ducks were sent home packing by an SEC opponent last season.

But the team's most important game of 2011 against an SEC opponent may be its first.

The Ducks, who lost to Auburn last season in the BCS Championship Game, face fourth-ranked LSU to kick off this season.

Given I'm not a firm believer in the Alabama Crimson Tide being the No. 2 team in the land as polls suggest, the LSU-Oregon game on Sept. 3 could be the difference between who goes to the BCS title game and who doesn't.

Fortunately for the Ducks, they have all the talent to beat the Tigers, and their next biggest foe after that is Stanford, who I don't think can beat the Ducks given their losses in the offseason.

Not only do the Ducks return running back LaMichael James in 2011, a Heisman candidate last season, they also have a true game-changing cornerback in Cliff Harris. Harris not only had six interceptions (one for a TD) last season, he's also arguably the best returner in college football, running four punts back for touchdowns in 2010.

On top of that, quarterback Darron Thomas showed great strides last season as a sophomore, and he only figures to be better this season. Thomas not only passed for over 2,800 yards, he threw for 30 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. On the ground, he added 486 yards and five touchdowns.

Between James and Thomas, the Ducks have the nation's No. 1 rushing attack.

On defense, there are questions about how much linebacker Clay Matthews' departure will hurt the Ducks. But the truth is, this team has great depth on defense, even after losing Matthews and three of their four starters on the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti used up to 25 players on defense last season, including nine on the defensive line.

In terms of who will replace Matthews, look for Clay; Michael Clay, that is. In a reserve role last season, Clay had 42 tackles, including an interception in last season's win against rival Oregon State.

And don't forget John Boyett, Harris' partner-in-crime. As the team's free safety last season, Boyett had five picks and 78 tackles. He's also been known to rattle a receiver or two in his time at Oregon as a hard-hitter.

In short, I love the Ducks this season just as much as I did in 2010.

The only question for me is if they can get past Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game.

-Ryan Rudnansky