In addition to being a battle of high-profile, big-money Oregon versus one of the also-rans of the Big Ten, Saturday night’s game with Maryland is a battle of Nike versus Under Armour.
The Terrapins are the original Under Armour school, having signed with the upstart sports apparel company in 1996. Oregon’s affiliation with Nike has been one of sport’s most legendary and powerful synergies.
The Ducks announced earlier in the week they were wearing their “Generation O” uniforms that honor the Gang Green squads of the mid-90s, so the visitors and their apparel partners sought to match them.
While Tosh Lupoi and the Oregon defensive Front 7 seek to destroy the Maryland passing attack with pressure and tenacity, the Oregon uniform team looks to fit the Ducks with a look that blows away this visiting uniform combo, which features icy white jerseys, red reflective numerals and a raised, script Terps on the helmet.
The Maryland style is clean but not very innovative. Objectively, you’d have to score this one Nike 1, Interlopers 0. Even so, the competition on the scoreboard remains.