National analysts predict an agonizing November for the Ducks

They've played good football and risen to No. 6 in the country at 7-1, but Oregon's entire season rests on four games in November against Big Ten foes with a combined record of 24-9.

Bud Elliott of CBS and "The Cover3 Podcast" and Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports and The Athletic both predict that Oregon will miss the playoffs.

Elliott has 6-2 Washington in his latest 12-team bracket, which implies that the Huskies will dump the Ducks in Seattle on November 29. On the Fox postgame show this weekend Feldman was asked for a "hot take" on the playoff race, and he predicted the Ducks weren't going to make it, also projecting them to lose to the Huskies.

It's a year of parity in college football, and the only way to survive it is to be ready and show improvement every week. The Ducks have been an enigma, a talent-laden squad that's dominated weak opponents but has struggled against good defenses.

Dante Moore looked like a Heisman finalist in wins over Oklahoma State, Penn State and Rutgers. He looked confused and overwhelmed in the loss to Indiana and the low-scoring deluge at the Grateful Dead game, baffled by simulated pressures.

The Oregon defense has posted stellar numbers, but at times they look vulnerable to the run, struggle to stop third and short and have given up a score on every red zone trip. Those weaknesses could prove costly in November football against good teams.

Which Oregon team will show up down the stretch? Achieving a 7-1 mark and No. 6 in the country is a terrific start, but "experts" like Feldman and Elliott believe this team hasn't been tested, and that road games at Iowa and UW comprise too big of a test.

As capable and driven as he is, Dan Lanning isn't going to go 10-2 or 11-1 every year. In the current environment no coach will. This remains a young team, and whether they can hold off Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington in four straight weeks depends on how much they can grow, improve and maintain their focus.

USC and Washington are Top 25 teams, and 6-2 Iowa should be.

The pundits don't think they can do it. They believe that with youth, inexperience and vulnerabilities on the offensive line and at linebacker they'll fall just short this season.

Dan Lanning and his staff have to show they can make better use of the bye week this time around. Oregon has to come to the Iowa game with a sharper identity. In particular, Will Stein has to show he can win a scheme and game-planning challenge against a top defensive coordinator.