Oregon Football: 5 Reasons the Ducks Are No. 1

The Oregon Ducks are the most exciting team in college football this year. Every time they have stepped out on the field they have put at least 40 points on the scoreboard, with a season high of 72 coming in the first game against New Mexico Lobos.

In the first BCS Rankings released Sunday the Ducks were No. 2 in the polls behind the also undefeated Oklahoma Sooners.

However, Oregon has dominated every opponent that has lined up on the field against them and after demolishing the UCLA Bruins 60-13 they are looking like the best team in the nation.

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5. Darron Thomas

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 21: Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks throws a pass against the UCLA Bruins on October 21, 2010 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Darron Thomas has stepped in for dismissed quarterback Jeremiah Masoli seamlessly this season. He has thrown for 1539 yards, 17 touchdowns and a 60.9 completion percentage.

Thomas isn't asked to do a lot as the run game is the essential part of the offense, but that doesn't mean he isn't capable of producing.

Thomas only has five interceptions on the season and isn't very turnover prone which is all that the Ducks need him to be right now.

Darron Thomas has an impressive QB Rating of 158.87, which is good for 17th best in FBS. If Thomas can keep his play at this level the Ducks will waddle right to the national title game.

4. Oregon Defense

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 21: Richard Brehaut #12 of the UCLA Bruins is sacked by Kenny Rowe #58 of the Oregon Ducks causing a fumble on October 21, 2010 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

When you talk about Oregon the conversation always begins with their offense, and it's easy to see why. The Ducks have some of the most amazing stats in all of FBS on the offensive side of the ball.

But not too many people give the players on the other side of the ball the credit they deserve. After seven games the Ducks defense ranks 13th in FBS in points allowed per game at 15.9 (almost 40 points lower than what their offense averages per game).

Oregon's defense also knows how to get to the quarterback. They have 16 total sacks with Brandon Bair and Kenny Rowe leading the team with three sacks apiece.

They also have a nose for the ball. The Ducks have recovered 10 fumbles and have 14 interceptions. It's not all about the offense with Oregon and the 2010 Ducks defense is showing you just that.

3. Oregon Offense

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 21: Jeff Maehl #23 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates scoring a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins on October 21, 2010 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The Oregon Ducks have the most potent offense in FBS. They have playmakers at all the skill positions: QB Darron Thomas, RB LaMichael James, WR Jeff Maehl and TE David Paulson.

They average a FBS best 55.1 points per game, and have scored 60 plus points in three of their games (with a season high of 72). 

On the ground the Ducks average 308.4 yards per game, which ranks third in FBS. Oregon isn't one sided on offense though, through the air Oregon puts up 260.7 yards per game. In their rout of UCLA, Darron Thomas threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns.

2. Chip Kelly

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks is greeted by 'Puddles', the mascot of the Oregon Ducks, before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 52-31. (Ph

Chip Kelly has been the mastermind behind Oregon's resurgence to the top of the Pac-10 and top of the college football world.

Kelly took over the job in 2009 and hit the ground running. He was the first coach in Pac-10 history to win the conference outright in his first season. The Ducks went on to their first Rose Bowl since 1995.

Chip Kelly's explosive offense is yet to be figured out by many defensive coordinators and Kelly is taking full advantage of that. 

1. LaMichael James

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 21: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks ceelebrates scoring a touchdown in the 1st quarter against the UCLA Bruins on October 21, 2010 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The sophomore running back out of Texas has really taken off within the Oregon offense this year. James is becoming a face of the Ducks football program along with Chip Kelly.

James has 971 yards (second best in the FBS behind Michigan QB Denard Robinson) on 134 carries and 11 touchdowns. James is also averaging a jaw dropping 30.3 yards per catch.

But, James' most impressive stat is that in his whole career at Oregon he has yet to fumble the ball. James has 385 total touches for the Ducks and has yet to put the ball on the ground.

In Thursday's game against UCLA James suffered a minor ankle injury. He came back in and finished the game with 20 carries 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Brandon Jefferson is a student at High Point University and a Bleacher Report Writing Intern. You can follow him on Twitter @Dotcom_2.