Oregon takes over Big Ten Media Days with gigantic inflatable duck

Oregon is already making a splash at Big Ten Media Days.

On Tuesday, Oregon celebrated its move to the conference by floating a gigantic inflatable duck down the White River at its annual media event in Indianapolis.

It's the perfect image for the attention Oregon is receiving in its first year as a Big Ten member.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who transferred from Oklahoma during the offseason, is the favorite to win the Heisman at +750. Oregon (+225) is second in preseason odds to win the Big Ten, only trailing Ohio State (+150). ( h/t ESPN Bet )

ESPN's Football Power Index ranks the Ducks as the No. 2 team in the country, and it has them finishing with a projected record of 10.8-1.8.

The Big Ten media recently revealed its preseason poll. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was named preseason Coach of the Year, while Gabriel received preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors.

The Ducks joined the Big Ten this summer after defecting from the Pac-12 last year. Washington, USC and UCLA are also first-year conference members, and the Ducks appear to have the best chance of competing for a Big Ten title.

Oregon hosts Ohio State (Oct. 12) and travels to Michigan (Nov. 2) in its two most notable Big Ten games. It has an otherwise manageable conference schedule, so with wins in those games, it should be in excellent shape to return to Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game in December.

As Oregon's massive inflatable suggests, it isn't interested in flying under the radar.