Ducks hold steady in AP Poll, but it doesn't matter- yet

The first College Football Playoff rankings come out November 4th, and the only one that truly matters is the one revealed after Championship Week.

That one sets the playoff field. All the rest is just projection. Though the AP Poll isn't officially a part of the playoff seeding, only rarely has the committee deviated much from college football's most recognized poll.

Oregon held steady at No. 6 this week's AP Poll released Sunday morning despite a tough win in brutal conditions over 2-6 Wisconsin. They remain ahead of Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Miami in spots 7-10.

Though there's still time to make up or lose ground and the final poll by the committee is the one that counts, it's important to keep in mind that seeds 5-8 will have a first-round playoff berth. Right now the Ducks are within that sweet spot.

At 7-1, Dan Lanning's squad could be fighting for its playoff life in November. They face a gauntlet of the Big Ten's next tier of teams in Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington.

Conference leaders Ohio State and Indiana have punched their ticket for a playoff slot they unless they have a major stumble in November. The only ranked team either faces in the Buckeyes' rivalry game against No. 21 Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Despite meeting every challenge except the Hoosiers, the Ducks look vulnerable. Both No. 23 USC and unranked Washington have hopes of sneaking past them for a playoff berth with a strong finish and a head-to-head win. Iowa is alive at 6-2 and Kinnick Stadium is legendary as a place where great teams go to die.

With inconsistency on offense and a defense that falters on third and short and in the Red Zone, the Ducks haven't shown they're a legitimate playoff threat. Proof's in the pudding, and the pudding hits the table in November.

Oregon held steady in the Coaches Poll at No. 6.