Oregon Duck Mascot Loses Head During Season Opener Against Montana State

During the Oregon Ducks' 2025 college football season opener against Montana State, the team's beloved mascot, The Oregon Duck, experienced a comical mishap by losing its head while running onto the field. The mascot immediately sprinted back to the tunnel, with staffers quickly retrieving the head and restoring order before the mascot led the team out as usual. This incident, reminiscent of similar occurrences in recent years including a 2023 event and a tripping incident before a 2024 game against Purdue, has become a humorous tradition for the Ducks. Despite the mascot's misfortune, the team responded strongly, quickly scoring two touchdowns and a field goal to lead 17-0 early in the game. Fans have interpreted the mascot’s headless run as potentially a good omen, citing the team's previous success following similar incidents, including a 12-0 regular season and a Big Ten Championship win last year. Overall, while the mascot's head loss was an embarrassing moment, it has not hindered Oregon’s on-field performance and may even signal a promising season ahead.