Believe it or not, the Oregon logo is one of the most easily explained logos in all of college sports. Of course, the "O" stands for the first letter of the team but the shape of the letter means just a little more to the Ducks.
While Oregon often opts for a fancier uniform, a throwback version of its mascot, or a brighter color scheme, the Ducks care about the "O" that is on their uniforms. Ahead of every home game, the football team walks by a massive, metal "O" right outside of Autzen Stadium to give a nod to their team's logo.
The Oregon basketball and volleyball courts feature the "O" right in the middle and the track at Hayward Field has the logo scattered around the stadium. So, where exactly does the shape of the Oregon "O" come from?
Well, the exterior of the letter is the outline of Autzen Stadium and the interior oval is the outline of Hayward Field – the two most predominant athletic buildings on Oregon's campus. It's a little tricky for some people to picture in their mind's eye but once it's drawn out, it feels like one of the most obvious things in the world:
Oregon Ducks O Logo Sketch Concept with Hayward Field Inside the O.
— Deondre McKnight (@Win__The__Day) October 23, 2024
Also, Including Autzen Stadium on the O Logo. Almost Makes the Logo 3D like. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/rhLTTaGIUi
So, while Oregon isn't the only collegiate team with an "O" logo and the Ducks sometimes have the letter as one of the less-dominant images on their uniforms, the "O" has special meaning to Oregon students, athletes, and anyone else who has spent time on campus.
Autzen Stadium was first constructed in 1967 and has since had a number of renovations completed but the shape has remained the same. On the other hand, the original Hayward Field was torn down in 2018 and entirely rebuilt in 2020 but the shape of the track has obviously remained the same. So, the shape of the Oregon logo has yet to change.