NFL Mock Draft Predicts Surprise Winner for College Football National Championship

Oddly, Michigan has an impressive handful of first-round picks, left over from their national title last season. Too much attrition around this solid nucleus spelled doom for the Wolverines, who've fallen to 6-5 in their first year under Sherrone Moore.

As for the Ducks, this mock doesn't project a single Oregon player in the first round, although others have included defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Seven other Ducks are likely to be selected: Defensive end Jordan Burch, offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr., quarterback Dillon Gabriel, receiver Evan Stewart, receiver Tez Johnson, tight end Terrance Ferguson and defensive back Jabbar Muhammad.  

NFL Draft Buzz ranks 10 Oregon players with draft grades of 80 or above, including Jordan James, Jeffrey Bassa and Ajani Cornelius. Terrance Ferguson and Jamaree Caldwell come in just a notch lower at 79.7.

The Ducks could have as many as 12 draft picks, which puts them in the historical range of recent national champions. They don't have the first-round talent that's normally associated with a championship, although they do have some outstanding underclassmen like Kenyon Sadiq, Matayo Uiagalelei, and center Iapani Laloulu. 

Just on the raw numbers of potential NFL players, you'd expect the Ducks to come up short in the playoff run, especially because this year a champion has to run the gauntlet, a minimum of three games against well-funded programs with highly talented rosters.

Of course, football games aren't played on paper. They're not preordained by draft stock or star ratings. The Ducks have a lot of talent and a great culture. FanDuel puts their national championship odds at +390, third-best behind Ohio State and Georgia, just ahead of Texas, about a 20.4% chance to win it all.

Oregon is unique also in the way this team is constructed. They don't have the best player at any one position but they have good players at every position, a group that plays with exceptional preparation and intelligence. In a way this team is built on a model like the old New England Patriots, an emphasis on professionalism and discipline rather than star power, although there is plenty of talent, plus a cool, heady, veteran quarterback.

The last point is playoff performance could change draft stock, sending all these projections into the shredder.