The Oregon Ducks are heading into their Saturday night matchup with USC in a look that has become one of their most recognizable road statements: all white.
No. 20 Oregon released its uniform combination for the Sept. 26 game against No.
12 USC, and the Ducks are going with the classic “stormtrooper” setup. USC, meanwhile, is expected to stick with its traditional cardinal jerseys, gold pants and red helmet.
That white-on-white look has produced some of Oregon’s biggest moments against the Trojans, and the Ducks are leaning into that history again for what already feels like a heavyweight September showdown. Oregon has had success in the all-white combination in this series, and this week’s choice sends a clear message before kickoff.
The Ducks’ recent history against USC includes plenty of memorable uniform choices. In 2025, Oregon beat USC at home in all black with green helmets.
In his pregame speech, Dan Lanning told his team they wore black because the game would be a "Trojan funeral," a moment later shown in Oregon’s recap series, Ducks vs. Them.
But the stormtrooper look is the one that keeps showing up in the biggest wins. Oregon wore all-white uniforms with green helmets in a 2006 road loss, then came back in 2010 dressed to “Storm LA.” That trip produced a 53-32 Oregon win behind LaMichael James, who rushed for 249 yards, and Jeff Maehl, who caught eight passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
The Ducks wore the same style again in 2012 and rolled to a 62-51 victory. Kenjon Barner carried the ball 38 times for 321 yards and five touchdowns in that one.
The year before, in 2011, USC had upset then-ranked No. 3 Oregon while the Ducks wore all black.
Oregon went back to the stormtrooper look in 2016, when freshman quarterback Justin Herbert and the Ducks lost in the Coliseum. The last Oregon win in Los Angeles came in the 2020 Pac-12 Championship Game after a shortened season, when the Ducks beat USC 31-24 in white jerseys, green pants and green helmets.
The broader series has tilted Oregon’s way more often than not lately. The Ducks have won eight of the last 10 meetings with USC. Since 2000, though, the matchup is much closer, with Oregon holding an 11-6 edge.
This one carries more weight than a typical September game. It is the first ranked opponent for both teams and the first true test of the season. It is also Oregon’s first Big Ten game of the year, and the Ducks are already dealing with the pressure of a loss to Oklahoma State, which makes the College Football Playoff path feel narrow.
USC has plenty on the line, too. After Oregon, the Trojans still have No.
5 Indiana and No. 7 Ohio State ahead of them, so a win over the Ducks would give Lincoln Riley’s team more breathing room.
Both rosters are dealing with injury concerns entering Week 4. USC receiver Trent Mosley is working through a knee injury, while Oregon receiver Jeremiah McClellan is out with a broken foot. Lanning said he expects tight end Jamari Johnson to return against USC, while Riley was less optimistic about Trojans defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, who has not yet made his 2026 debut.
The quarterback battle adds another layer to the matchup. USC’s Jayden Maiava has been one of the more efficient passers in the Big Ten, while Oregon’s Dante Moore gets a chance to strengthen his case as a top NFL Draft prospect.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the game airing on NBC.
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