What does Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks squad really need to secure a place in the 12-team College Football Playoff

The second-ranked Oregon Ducks keep on winning, even the close games. Despite opening the season with two close calls against Idaho State and Boise State, raising questions about the Ducks' potential as a national championship contender, Oregon has bounced back, including a statement win over Ohio State on Saturday.

Oregon has established itself as nearly a lock as a College Football Playoff contender, but what else could help the Ducks' chances as the season rolls on?

What do Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks need to make the College Football Playoff?

Syndication: The Register-Guard - Source: Imagn

Win. That's all the Oregon Ducks must do to capture a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Ducks (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) have already recorded a statement win over a top five team in the country in Ohio State (beating the then-No. 2 Buckeyes 32-31 on Saturday) and have it relatively easy down the stretch of the season.

Oregon has already done enough to land a spot in the 12-team playoff and will have two games left to test their focus: Week 9 versus No. 22 Illinois and Week 10 in Ann Arbor versus No. 24 Michigan.

The Oregon Ducks have proven to play down versus lower-tier opponents, a trait that can derail a contending team's playoff hopes. Dan Lanning will have to keep his team's eyes on the prize as they enter a slippery two-game stretch versus Illinois (5-1, 2-1) and Michigan (4-2, 2-1) following their matchup this weekend versus Purdue (1-5, 0-3).

Oregon has already exceeded expectations in its first season in the Big Ten Conference, entering Week 8 as one of three squads with 3-0 conference records along with Indiana and Penn State.

Even if the Oregon Ducks surrender one of their two remaining Top 25 matchups, they will likely still have a spot in the Big Ten championship game if they can finish the season as a one-loss team.

The key for the Ducks is to not allow a slip-up versus an unranked opponent such as Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin or Washington, all of which are remaining games on Oregon's schedule. If the Ducks surrender one of these matchups, the road to the CFP gets tougher.

Regardless, the Oregon Ducks have already made their case for a playoff bid, even as a one-loss team. If the Ducks can win out and secure a Big Ten championship in their first season in the conference, Oregon is almost guaranteed to be one of the top four seeds and secure a bye in the playoff.