Auburn Wins BCS National Championship, but the Oregon Ducks Will Be Back First

Yeah yeah yeah, Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers won the BCS National Championship.

Yeah yeah yeah, Nick Fairley was a beast and Michael Dyer was lucky and the final score was 22-19.

As Gene Chizik basks smugly in the glow of "I told you so," Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks head back to Eugene, shaking their heads and some, perhaps, beating themselves up over just how close it was in the end.

For those who prefer Green and Yellow to Burnt Orange and Navy Blue, who sing "Mighty Oregon" instead of "War Eagle," here's one simple piece of advice:

Next year ain't that far away.

The Tigers may be the champions in 2011, but the Ducks have a much better shot at a return trip to the BCS National Championship Game in 2012, and here's why.

Darron Thomas and LaMichael James: Key Cogs in the Oregon Offense

Any discussion of the Ducks as BCS title contenders next fall naturally begins with the team's two best players, Darron Thomas and LaMichael James, who has already said he will return for the 2012 season.

Both players will be preseason candidates for the 2011 Heisman, with James possibly being the front runner for the award after finishing the season as the national leader in rushing yards (1,731) and second-leader in rushing touchdowns (21).

The Ducks duo blew away everyone's expectations this season, after many had Oregon pegged for a drop off following the dismissal of Jeremiah Masoli.

However, Thomas stepped in and, with fellow Texan James by his side, captained the nation's most prolific offense in 2010.

Even without star wide receiver Jeff Maehl, the Ducks offense could be just as dangerous in 2011 as it was in 2010.

And it will need to be, as Oregon's defense may suffer without linebacker Casey Matthews and defensive end Kenny Rowe around to terrorize opposing offenses.

Then again, the Ducks were only 34th nationally in scoring defense in their 12-1 season, so maybe they won't need a top-notch defense to keep up.

Pac-12 Ripe for the Ducks' Taking

That's because the Pac-12, the conference in which Oregon plays, won't necessarily present the Ducks with many worthy challengers in 2011.

Sure, Stanford could be good again, but the Ducks demolished the Cardinal, who likely will suffer somewhat from the departure of Jim Harbaugh, even with Andrew Luck still in town.

Arizona should be in the running for the conference crown, at least in the pre-season, though that was the case in 2010 and Mike Stoops' squad didn't exactly deliver, finishing with an overall record of 7-6.

Some see Utah as a threat to win the Pac-12 in its first year out of the Mountain West Conference, though a 26-3 loss to Boise State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas doesn't exactly bode well for the Utes' chances in a better league.

It's also entirely possible that teams like USC (even on NCAA probation), Arizona State and Cal could pose a threat to the Ducks' conference title three-peat in 2011, though that seems rather unlikely at this point.

Braving the SEC Gauntlet Again a Tough Task For the Tigers

In Auburn's case, the Tigers won't have the luxury of beating up on the Washington State's and UCLA's of the world in preparation for slightly more challenging games against Stanford and Arizona.

Instead, they'll have to contend with powerhouses like Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Florida and Arkansas in 2011.

Not to mention up-and-comers like Mississippi State and Clemson early in the schedule.

Running the table in the SEC at any point is a monumental accomplishment in an of itself; doing it twice in a row is absolutely daunting, if not impossible, though that may be what it takes for Auburn to defend its BCS supremacy.

Tigers Will Be Toast Without Cam Newton and Nick Fairley

The chances of Auburn replicating its magical 14-0 run this season will plunge even further should Cam Newton and Nick Fairley opt for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Both players have every reason to take their talents to the next level. Newton won the Heisman Trophy while accounting for on the greatest season-long performances in the history of college football, piling up more than 4,200 total yards and 50 touchdowns through the air on the ground.

As a pro prospect, Newton is still a tad bit raw, but has the size (6'6" and 250 pounds) and the physical tools to be a transcendent NFL talent with a little more preparation.

Fairley, on the other hand, was an absolute beast at the defensive tackle spot for the Tigers, particularly in the BCS National Championship Game in Arizona, where he regularly ripped through double-teams and demolished Oregon's offensive line. The 6'5", 300-pound nose tackle would likely be one of the first five players taken in the 2011 NFL Draft, if not the first overall.

Each player was essentially the anchor for his particular side of the ball and Auburn will have a heck of a time replacing them, much less contending for a national title, should they leave.

Conclusion: Oregon Still Hot, Auburn Maybe Not

When all is said and done, there's no denying that Auburn is in a better position right now than Oregon is.

Would the Ducks trade in national title contention next season for the glory right now? Probably.

That being said, thanks to both its own circumstances and those of its championship opponent, Oregon has a much better shot at running to New Orleans for the 2012 BCS National Championship Game than does Auburn.