CBS SportsLine makes shocking playoff prediction, a redemption arc for the Ducks

When a team that's enjoyed some success enters a bye week 5-0, fans just naturally start thinking about a national championship.

While players have to remain laser-focused on the next step, a productive Improvement Week and a challenging game with No. 8 Indiana on October 11, it's understandable that Oregon fans let their imaginations run wild, all the way to the elusive natty after so many years of so close.

In their latest playoff projection SportsLine, the betting and odds service affiliated with CBS Sports, currently places Oregon as the No. 1 seed, ahead of AP No. 1 Ohio State. In their bracket, the Ducks top No. 9-seed MIchigan in the quarterfinals, No. 4-seed Penn State in the semifinal round, and (gasp) winning over Ohio State at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19.

In this model the road to a national championship goes through the Big Ten Conference, winners of the last two. If it comes to pass, the Ducks end 25 years of frustration. The scurrilous retort, "9,984 uniform combinations, zero national championships" can finally die of dysentery on the Oregon trail.

The road to that awesome achievement isn't even one-third completed. Longtime Duck fans can cite a dozen examples of dream seasons gone wrong, a fourth quarter with two blocked punts (2001,) a wide receiver stretching for the pylon and fumbling into the end zone (2007,) a dream backfield injured in the ninth game of the year (2007 again,) a clear interception overturned, a clear fumble declared an incomplete pass and a runner down in three places allowed to get up and run again (2010,) a speedy running back forgetting to block on a sure touchdown run (2012,) four receivers, a tight end and an All-American cornerback out for the national championship game (2014,) and giving up an 81-yard passing touchdown on 3rd and 19 (2019.)

It's a lament as long as tedious as the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. a lyrical ballad of staggering misery. Now Dan Lanning and Dante Moore appear poised to hurl the albatross into the sea, erasing all curses, demolishing all memes, silencing every troll.

This is a team with a new identity and a new culture. They're brash, They're monstrous and physical in the trenches. They're not afraid to be the team opposing fans love to hate.

With the poise in the pocket Moore has, the calm he exudes, no moment seems too big. With the remarkable infusion of first-year players with the work habits and maturity of NFL veterans, no matchup seems unwinnable.

Right now, today, based on what they've shown and their commitment to improve, this is the team that could win that first national championship. For the first time ever, Duck fans can see it, smell it and believe it.

But it doesn't happen unless all 105 of them remain committed to one goal and one process, and they get just a little more luck this time around.

And it's not just homers and hacks who are saying so.

They're not just knocking on the door. Bear Alexander and Alex Harkey are about to blow the (expletive) to pieces.

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