Oregon Football: Ranking Ducks' Biggest Remaining Threats on 2014 Schedule

The Oregon Ducks (6-1, 3-1) are firmly in control of the Pac-12 North and are ranked No. 6 in the country; however, there are still five tough Pac-12 opponents waiting to take them out of contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

While an early loss to Arizona may have bruised Oregon’s playoff hopes, it turned out not to be the knockout blow we originally thought it might be. In fact, Bleacher Report’s Samuel Chi projects that the Ducks will play in the College Football Playoff.

With only five games left this season—not including a Pac-12 Championship Game—the Ducks have limited opportunities to impress the playoff selection committee and leave their mark on the college football season.

With a healthy offensive line, the emergence of true freshman running back Royce Freeman, an improving defense and Heisman candidate Marcus Mariota under center, the Ducks are poised to do some late damage and prove themselves to be a worthy playoff candidate.

As we mentioned, five tough Pac-12 opponents stand between them and a shot at the Pac-12 title game. One slip-up and the Ducks' postseason aspirations will go up in smoke.

With that in mind, let’s rank the biggest remaining threats on Oregon’s schedule.

1. Stanford Cardinal

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Nov. 1: Stanford at Oregon (Eugene, Oregon)

In order to win the Pac-12 North title and advance to the conference title game, the Ducks will need to finally slay the dragon known as Stanford.

People have circles Nov. 1 on the calendar since last year. The Ducks want a second crack at revenge. The Cardinal have derailed Oregon’s national title hopes the last two seasons.

In 2012, The Associated Press ranked Oregon No. 1 in the country as the Ducks welcomed Stanford to Autzen Stadium. The Ducks were 10-0 and two wins away from likely competing against Notre Dame in the national championship. However, the No. 14-ranked Cardinal stunned the Ducks 17-14.

A year later in Palo Alto, California, the Ducks, who were ranked No. 2 at the time, got a chance to avenge their loss in 2012 and make a statement that they were the team to beat. Instead, the No. 6-ranked Cardinal demolished the Ducks 26-20—a score that isn’t indicative of well Stanford played.

Marcus Mariota has been Oregon’s quarterback since 2012 and has beaten every team in the Pac-12 except for Stanford. Mariota gets his third and likely final chance on Nov. 1.

Stanford has had Oregon’s number the past two seasons because it has created havoc in the backfield, slowed down Oregon’s running game and forced turnovers. The question is whether or not Oregon’s offense can consistently gain yards and move the chains against a team that is ranked No. 2 in the country in scoring defense and is only allowed 12.3 points per game.

Is this the Stanford team from two years ago? Absolutely not. The Cardinal have struggled so far this season; they are 4-3 and out of the AP Top 25 for the first time in 72 weeks. However, they still possess one of the best defenses in the country and, more importantly, know how to beat Oregon.

The Ducks know that this is their opportunity to overcome their Achilles’ heel. They have a great chance to get it done. However, Stanford would love nothing more than to spoil Oregon’s national championship dreams for the third consecutive year.

Threat Level (0-10): 9

2. Utah Utes

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Nov. 8: Oregon at Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Oregon beat up on Utah last year at Autzen Stadium 44-21. However, these are not the same Utes.

Utah (5-1, 2-1) is currently ranked No. 19 in the country by the AP and is tied for first in the Pac-12 South. Moreover, the Utes have three very impressive road wins this season. Utah beat Michigan at The Big House, UCLA at the Rose Bowl and Oregon State in Corvallis in a double-overtime thriller.

While Utah’s offense lives and dies by the legs of stud running back Devontae Booker, it is Utah’s defense that will likely give Oregon fits in Salt Lake City.

Utah’s defense is ranked No. 20 in the country against the run and is allowing 114.2 yards per game on the ground. However, when you look a bit deeper, you’ll see that Utah is only allowing 2.84 yards per carry—ranked No. 5 in the country.

While the Ducks are clearly the better team in this matchup, this is a spot where Oregon could get have a letdown game.

Let’s say the Ducks finally slay the Stanford dragon and see the Pac-12 championship at the end of the tunnel. They could easily look past a tough Utah team and forget that they’re playing in one of the most difficult environments in the Pac-12.

Remember, Rice-Eccles Stadium sits 4,657 feet above sea level. If the Ducks aren’t mentally and physically prepared for the altitude, Oregon could be in trouble.

It’s a very dangerous game, and the Ducks should be concerned. The Utes are for real. Oregon better not forget it.

Threat Level: 7

3. California Golden Bears

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Oct. 24: Oregon at California (Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California) 

Oregon is playing this game against Cal (4-3, 2-3) eight days before it is scheduled to take on Stanford in Eugene. This could be a classic “look-ahead” game for the Ducks, and they may just be looking right past a vastly improved Cal team.

Just think about it: The Ducks are playing against Cal on a short week at a neutral field, and the game has been scheduled in between two of Oregon’s biggest rivals: Washington and Stanford.

If the Ducks aren’t prepared to take on Cal, they could very easily lose. It’s not that far-fetched.

Well, actually it’s kind of far-fetched once you realize that Cal is ranked dead last in the country against the pass and is allowing 525 yards of offense per game—ranked No. 121 in the country. Then you remember that the Ducks have Mariota, and suddenly this game doesn’t seem to be any sort of threat to the Ducks.

The Ducks offense should cruise against the Bears; however, Oregon’s defense is going to be challenged by quarterback Jared Goff and head coach Sonny Dykes’ Bear Raid offense.

The Bears are averaging 372.1 yards per game through the air this season—No. 3 in the country—and are ranked No. 18 in total offense this season.

The Ducks may be able to cruise through this game and dominate Cal on both sides of the ball. It’s absolutely possible. However, in terms of a threat, Cal presents one due to its offense, the location of the game and how the game fits into the Ducks schedule.

Threat Level: 5

4. Oregon State Beavers

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Nov. 29: Oregon at Oregon State (Corvallis, Oregon)

There’s nothing civil about the Civil War. You can throw the records out of the window when these two teams battle. In short, the Ducks and Beavers have been battling since 1894. Their rivalry is the seventh most contested in college football history, with the teams facing each other 117 times.

Though the Ducks have won the past six games in this rivalry—including the last three in Corvallis—the rivalry is still as heated as ever. It’s always a dangerous game for Oregon.

Oregon State (4-2, 1-2) isn’t the same team it was last year and has had some growing pains so far this season. However, the Beavers still have one of the best quarterbacks in the conference in Sean Mannion and one of the most underappreciated coaches in America in Mike Riley.

By all accounts, the Beavers are a very average team this season. Defensively, Oregon State is ranked No. 50 in scoring defense, No. 57 in rushing defense and No. 11 in pass defense.

Offensively, the Beavers are ranked No. 82 in scoring offense, No. 44 in passing offense and No. 100 in rushing offense.

All in all, the Beavers are the definition of average in the Pac-12 conference. They’ve been demolished by USC in Los Angeles, competed with a very good Utah team in Corvallis and picked up a road win in Colorado.

While this game should be easy pickings for the Ducks, the rivalry makes this more of a dangerous spot for Oregon. Oregon State presents a threat simply based on the rivalry alone. However, that threat isn’t particularly strong this season.

Threat Level: 4

5. Colorado Buffaloes

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Nov. 22: Colorado at Oregon (Eugene, Oregon)

Look, this is the Pac-12, and crazier things have happened. However, if the Ducks were to lose at home to the Buffaloes, the state of Oregon would actually explode. 

Colorado (2-5, 0-4) has been more competitive this year than in years past, especially at home. The Buffaloes would have never kept Arizona State to 38 points a couple of years ago, nor would they have competed against the likes of Oregon State.

However, in their one Pac-12 road game so far this season, the Buffs allowed 56 points to USC, giving up seven touchdowns to Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler. If Kessler can score seven touchdowns against you, imagine the damage Mariota can inflict.

Moreover, the rest of the Buffs schedule reads like a murderers' row. Colorado will host UCLA and Washington over the next two weeks before heading on the road to face Arizona and then Oregon.

By the time Colorado gets to Oregon, it will likely be 2-8 and screaming "No Mas."

Colorado presents a “threat” to Oregon’s one-loss season simply by showing up; however, the Buffaloes are still a couple of years away from being able to compete with mediocre Pac-12 teams, let alone the big boys.

Threat Level: 1

Statistics courtesy of NCAA.com unless otherwise stated.

Jason Gold is Bleacher Report’s lead Oregon writer. Follow Jason on Twitter @TheSportsGuy33.