No. 20 Oregon is bringing out a look that should feel very familiar to Ducks fans and a little less pleasant for the people in the other sideline seats at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
On Wednesday, Oregon unveiled its “Stormtrooper” uniform combination for Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. matchup with No. 12 USC. The Ducks will go with white jerseys featuring shimmering green numbers, white pants and a silver helmet topped with white feathers.
For Oregon, that setup carries some good memories. For USC, it probably sparks a few uncomfortable ones.
The last time Oregon wore a similar look came in a 56-10 win at Rutgers on Oct. 18, 2025, though that version used white helmets and green feathers. But the most famous version of the “Stormtrooper” look came on Nov. 3, 2012, when the Ducks rolled past USC 62-51 in Los Angeles while piling up 730 yards of total offense.
That night, running back Kenjon Barner turned in a monster performance, rushing for a program-record 321 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Marcus Mariota added 304 passing yards and four touchdowns of his own.
Now the Ducks will try to make the outfit work again in a Big Ten test that carries real weight for both teams. USC enters at 4-0 and 1-0 in league play, and Oregon heads into the game looking to keep the momentum going in its 2026 season.
Oregon has already rolled out a wide range of uniform combinations this year, including the “High voltage” look for its Sept. 13 game at Northwestern, the “Defy the norm” setup for the Oct. 18 win over Rutgers, the “Tied to history, dyed to match” Grateful Ducks uniforms for the Oct. 25 win over Wisconsin, and the “Disruptive by design” combo worn against Minnesota on Nov. 15.
The Ducks also used special looks in the postseason, including the “Strongest as one” uniform for the Jan. 1 Orange Bowl win over Texas Tech and the “Strength + speed” combo for the Jan.
9 Peach Bowl against Indiana.
The full 2026 list also includes the Sept. 18 win over Portland State, the loss to Oklahoma State, the Sept. 5 win over Boise State, the Dec. 10 playoff game against James Madison, the Nov. 29 win over Washington, the Nov. 22 win over USC, the Nov. 8 win over Iowa, the Oct. 11 loss to Indiana, the Sept. 27 double-overtime win at Penn State, the Sept. 20 win over Oregon State, the Sept. 6 blowout of Oklahoma State and the season opener against Montana State.
In Other News...
Oregon Now Has One More USC Threat To Worry About
As Oregon turns its attention to USC, there is at least some uncertainty on the Trojans defensive front. Lincoln Riley offered an update on Jahkeem Stewarts status ahead of Saturdays matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, noting that the defensive tackle has been sidelined all season by a foot injury but is moving forward in his recovery.
For the Ducks, the timing matters because Stewarts progress adds another name to the list of USC variables to monitor before the September 26 meeting. Even without him on the field so far, the possibility of his return not being far off gives the Trojans a little more intrigue entering a game that already carries plenty of weight for Oregon. [Read more 🡒]
Dante Moore Gives Oregon Real Reason To Believe Before USC
Before Oregon turns to USC, Dante Moore has already given the Ducks a dose of momentum they can feel good about. Against Portland State, the quarterback was sharp from the start, completing 19 of 23 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns in the first half while putting together one of the better performances among Power Four passers in Week 3.
The showing earned Moore a spot on PFFs Big Ten Team of the Week and nudged him into a more encouraging national conversation, with a 78.7 overall grade that leaves room for more. USC is next, and for Moore it brings another chance to build on the early-season progress and keep climbing in a matchup that should say plenty about where his game stands. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Freshman Surge Could Matter Sooner Than Fans Expected
A lopsided win over Portland State still managed to give Oregon something more meaningful than the final score, because several freshmen used the opportunity to make a real impression. Receiver Messiah Hampton, tight end Kendre Harrison and running back Brandon Smith all turned in standout Week 3 showings, with each player finding the end zone for the first time in college and landing among Pro Football Focus top-10 freshmen nationally for the week.
For Dan Lanning, the value of that kind of outing goes beyond the box score. Oregon is getting ready for the grind of Big Ten play, and the Ducks are trying to make sure younger players are comfortable before the competition stiffens. When freshmen are productive this early, it can change how quickly they factor into the rotation, and Oregon suddenly has a few more options to consider as the schedule gets more demanding. [Read more 🡒]