Before No. 1 Oregon football even played its first game to spark what’s been a dominant season, its mascot went on his own tour of the nation.
The Duck spent the offseason traveling across the country to visit the program’s new foes in the Big Ten Conference.
When the mascot returned to Eugene to begin the football season, the shenanigans were just getting started. The Oregon Duck is notorious for its costume entrances which range from Batman to trolling Colorado coach Deion Sanders.
The Duck has been just as creative as ever with his pregame fits this season. Below, the top five outfits of 2024 are ranked from worst to best.
- Napoleon Dynamite
The Oregon mascot made its Big Ten debut against Michigan State on Oct. 4.
He dressed in a curly wig, fake glasses and a “Vote for Pedro” shirt as he did the dance from the 2004 film “Napoleon Dynamite.”
While it was funny and had an uncanny resemblance to the character, it was a bit underwhelming in comparison to the other outfits on this list — especially considering it was the program’s first-ever appearance in Big Ten Conference action.
- Dancing With The Stars
The Duck made his case to be on a future season of the hit series “Dancing with the Stars” in his Nov. 9 entrance.
The mascot was just as flashy as ever, despite the energy in the stadium being lower than usual for Oregon’s game against a four-win Maryland squad. The Duck wore a bedazzled jacket as he spun around its partner.
The hype surrounding this appearance wasn’t as high as others on this list. Still, The Duck showed that there’s competition for best dancer among Big Ten mascots.
- Greatest Showman
Oct. 12 was a day that immediately belonged in the history books for Oregon athletics and college football.
Oregon football defeated Ohio State 32-31 in a top-3 thriller at Autzen Stadium — but the day got even better when The Duck arrived for his performance of “The Greatest Mascot.”
It was an ode to Hugh Jackman’s character in the musical film “The Greatest Showman.” The mascot was welcomed onto the field by the marching band, jugglers and dancers on stilts.
The Duck and his friends went full out on the commitment to performance, which earns it the third spot on this list.
- Minion
This one wins the title of cutest entrance.
An Oct. 26 date with Illinois was Oregon’s final game before Halloween — meaning it was a perfect opportunity for The Duck to reveal this year’s costume.
The mascot dressed as a yellow minion from the movie “Despicable Me.” Over a dozen kids who were also dressed as minions chased after The Duck during its entrance onto the field.
Not only did this outfit pay tribute to another beloved cinematic character, but it also included the youth of the Oregon fanbase.
- Mr. Potato Head
The first-place spot goes to what The Duck wore in the second home game of the season: a Mr. Potato Head costume.
This one snagged the top spot because it combined humor with an outfit that made sense to the team’s matchup. After all, Oregon faced off against Boise State University which is located in the Potato State.
The program’s performance versus the Broncos wasn’t its most convincing outing of the season. Oregon did win 37-34 against a team now ranked 13 in the nation, however, and it never looked back.
Perhaps the Mr. Potato Head outfit was a good luck charm at the beginning of an undefeated season.
