2011 BCS Rankings: Oregon Ducks Check in at No. 10 in First BCS Release

It is that maddening time of the year in which the BCS has released its first edition of its BCS rankings and the Oregon Ducks have checked in at No. 10. 

Since the opening week of the season, Oregon has been fighting an uphill battle due to their loss to LSU but an opening week loss to one of the best teams in the nation is something that could help them down the road. 

After this week, there are still 10 undefeated teams around the nation, but the Ducks can be encouraged by the fact that they are in the top 10 in the first release of the BCS rankings.

If you were to put together your best case scenario, this is what Duck fans need to be hoping for down the stretch if you want to see Oregon get another crack at the BCS title. 

1. Oregon wins out, which gives Stanford a loss 
2. LSU loses to Alabama
3. Boise State loses to anyone
4. Clemson loss before the ACC title game
5. LSU defeats Arkansas
6. Oklahoma/Oklahoma State loses before rivalry game, then the opposite team wins giving both one loss
7. Wisconsin loses to anyone

While this certainly does seem like a laundry list of what ifs, of the teams in front of Oregon, two are guaranteed to lose and the Ducks go head-to-head with Stanford.

Now that the rankings are out, the Ducks know where they stand but nothing has changed. They have the nations best loss, LSU in the first week, and they will get plenty of national attention down the stretch. 

Before fans get too far ahead of themselves, the Ducks must get Darron Thomas and LaMichael James healthy and then give Stanford their best shot. Without those players, a BCS birth could be an even bigger reach.