Before their first season in the Big Ten, Oregon Ducks introduced new all-black uniforms this Wednesday, named the “Fly Era” combination. The reveal video featured former Oregon standout De’Anthony Thomas, who sported similar designs during his time with the Ducks from 2011 to 2013.
The new uniforms feature silver wings on the black helmets and steel plates around the neck. The numbers are silver with green stitching, and players’ names are also in green. Notably, Oregon’s jerseys will include the “B1G” patch.
Oregon debuted black uniforms in 2005 during a “Civil War” game against the Oregon State Beavers, marking a revival in the program’s uniform style. Since then, the Ducks have regularly worn various versions of the popular black uniforms. Oregon is renowned for its extensive wardrobe, showcasing different combinations for every game.
The Ducks’ season kicks off on August 31 against the Idaho Vandals.
The long-discussed power struggle and abstract future moves have now become concrete realities. This week, nearly three years after the official announcement, Oklahoma and Texas formally joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Within the next month, other significant conference realignment shifts will also be finalized: Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington moving to the Big Ten; Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah to the Big 12; and Cal, Stanford, and SMU to the ACC. The future has arrived, whether it seems coherent or not.
As we approach the upcoming fall season, there will be many striking moments of realization, such as UCLA playing Rutgers in mid-October or Cal facing Wake Forest in early November. Despite these unique matchups, questions arise about how these teams will perform and how they would have fared last season. Moreover, it’s important to understand the usual dynamics when a team transitions to a new conference. Let’s delve into these aspects.
Based on the 2023 SP+ rankings, let’s establish the conference hierarchy by examining how each conference would have shaped up with its new additions for 2024 (new members highlighted in bold).
Texas, after defeating Alabama in Week 2 and making it to the College Football Playoff, landed within the expected range in SP+ rankings. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, benefiting from a lighter schedule, achieved a 2-2 record against SP+ top-25 teams and an 8-1 record against others, finishing 17th overall. Both teams are anticipated to maintain similar overall quality for the upcoming season, with Texas projected around fourth and Oklahoma around 15th. This positions the Longhorns as strong contenders for the College Football Playoff, while the Sooners, who would have been situated between two 7-6 teams last season, are projected to win between seven to eight games.
The Big Ten has consistently been a conference with dominant teams like Michigan and Ohio State at one end, and several mediocre teams at the other. Last season, it would have been exceptionally top-heavy with strong Oregon and Washington squads. (And it’s worth noting again that SP+ wasn’t particularly high on Washington despite their run to the national title game. The Huskies won all eight of their one-score games, which SP+ sees as unsustainable. Despite this, it was thrilling to watch.)
Similar to Washington, Oklahoma State’s surprising bid to the Big 12 championship game was fueled by several close victories (5-1 in one-score games). However, the Cowboys may not have been among the top teams in the conference. Conversely, Arizona and Utah could have been contenders. In a scenario without Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12, the battle for the championship game could have involved as many as eight or nine teams. This year’s competition looks equally exciting.
