Photo: Oregon Puts Massive Floating Duck Mascot in River for Big Ten Media Day

The Oregon Ducks sure know how to make an entrance.

With Oregon set to join the Big Ten starting with the upcoming 2024 college football season, the former Pac-12 school introduced itself to the new league by placing a massive floating duck mascot on the White River in downtown Indianapolis.

The stunt coincided with Big Ten media days, which are being held in the city.

Oregon's mascot is one of the most notable and recognizable in all of college sports, and the program hinted at what was to come ahead of Tuesday's stunt:

The Ducks are one of four new teams joining the Big Ten from the Pac-12 this season. USC, UCLA and Washington are also part of the fold, which gives the conference more notable programs as it competes with the SEC across the football landscape.

Oregon appears best suited to immediately compete for a title.

It came in second in Cleveland.com's annual Big Ten preseason media poll behind only Ohio State. While 21 of the 27 voters picked the Buckeyes to win the conference, the Ducks received the other six and checked in ahead of Penn State, Michigan, Iowa, USC and Wisconsin in that order.

Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel is expected to start at quarterback for Oregon and could contend for the Heisman Trophy as one of the best signal-callers in the country.

Gabriel and Co. will be tested, though, as they face Boise State, UCLA, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Washington in a loaded schedule. Fortunately for the Ducks and the other top teams in the Big Ten, there is some room for error this season with an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

If Oregon does get to the CFP, it will be tough to top its introduction to the Big Ten media days.