Uniform reveal for Oregon at Iowa features back-to-basics classic look

The Ducks face a College Football Playoff elimination game at Iowa Saturday, and their uniform choice suggests a return to their roots as a hard-running, physical, explosive football team born in the Rich Brooks and Mike Bellotti eras.

There are new touches including the white wings on the helmets, but for the showdown against the CFP No. 20, 6-2 Hawkeyes Oregon chose green helmets, crisp white jerseys with green numerals trimmed in yellow, and green pants.

It's a clean look, but they'll have to match it with a dri-fit undershirt as the update gametime forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of rain, 45 degrees with wind gusts to 16 mph. Cold and wet, perfect Duck weather.

That points to a significant mindset challenge for this Oregon squad, 7-1 and ranked No. 9 in the first College Football Playoff Committee Poll. The Ducks recruit players from all over, including Southern California, Florida and Texas. Their quarterback is from Detroit, Michigan.

They play in the Big Ten now, and that means November games in the cold, rain and wet. The college football season extends into December and January. If the first playoff bracket held true they'd be scheduled for a Saturday, December 20 game in Lubbock, Texas.

Even if the Ducks hold off Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington this month they'd likely host a home playoff game on the day of the Winter Solstice in Eugene, where the typical weather is high of 46, low of 36, cold and wet. The conditions at the Grateful Dead game are their new normal.

That means preparing for physical football, even a chance of cold and snow. Going back to traditional school colors seems an apt choice. It's time to strap on the helmet and knock opponents back.

Asked about playing in the Big Ten and the challenge of traveling to Kinnick Stadium and taking on Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeye, Dan Lanning said,
"I mean, this league has got more variety than people realize. So every week is a little bit different."

"But this is certainly one - when I talk about Iowa you talk about one that has an identity and has had an identity for a long time. Ever since Coach Ferentz has been there it's been really clear they're gonna play great defense, be really good on special teams, be physical in the run game, and be able to take advantage of shots and opportunities there. This team certainly has an identity, I'll say that."

Among the pundits, analysts and experts, the question before the Iowa game is whether Oregon can match Iowa's physicality, but that's the wrong question. The Ducks aren't looking to match Iowa's patented blend of toughness in the running game, defense and special teams. They're looking to exceed it.