Patrick Johnson 
This coming Monday, Oregon and Ohio State square off on the gridiron to see who’s the best team in College Football. In honor of the occasion, we’re looking at each University’s LeBron connection to see who has been outfitted with the better PEs throughout the past decade in the context of the basketball court. Granted, if we had a look at Player Exclusives in general you already know who would be the victor given Oregon’s Nike affiliations and their almost annual Air Jordan Retro. By picking the LeBron line we’re sort of leveling the playing field, kind of like how the Buckeyes are allowed to practice more this week by NCAA rules leading up to the big game in contrast to the higher seeded Ducks. Who wins the battle of LeBron PEs? Check out a few selected pairs and let us know your favorite in the comments section.
Nike Zoom LeBron 2 “Oregon” Home & Away PEs
One of the more curious Oregon PEs to date, we’ll never know why exactly the LeBron 2 was ‘Chosen’ to get the Oregon treatment, but we aren’t complaining. The Chamber of Fear references were ditched for a Ducks green and yellow throughout in both Home and Away looks featuring a predominant ‘O’ branding on the heel.
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Nike Zoom LeBron 4 “Oregon”
While this pair is questionable as to whether it was ever truly an Oregon PE, the inspiration is quite clear. With a Forrest Green ankle support and yellow-outlined Swoosh, a near Chrome finish to the Foamposite base mirrors the Ducks’ iridescent helmets that were worn late that season.
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NIKEiD LeBron 11 “Oregon”
The later renditions of LeBron models have the whole NIKEiD customization option going for them, so now anyone can seemingly have a ‘PE’ of their favorite school. The same can be said about this vibrant retro inspired LeBron 11 in Kelly Green and Varisty Maize. No Duck branding throughout, but there’s no mistaking which team this pair was made for.
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Nike LeBron 12 “Oregon” PEs
This season has been a resurgence for the Duck basketball squad getting LeBron love. So far, they’ve shown off two pairs of Nike LeBron 12 PEs, one featuring a near all green to stand out and the other features a Neon base while the Hyperposite overlay contrasts in an intimidating shade of green.
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Nike LeBron Soldier 8 “Oregon” PEs
After a year of wearing the Soldier line, LeBron’s team shoe has never been featured more prominently than now. Oregon’s been wearing exclusives of the Nike LeBron Soldier 8 throughout the season while alternating through the likes of the KD 7s and LeBron 12s.
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Nike Zoom LeBron 4 “Ohio State” PEs
These LeBron 4s have the added benefit of actually being confirmed as a PE and its stitched right there on the forefoot with a block letter ‘O’. You might remember these from the Buckeye’s Final Four run with the likes of Mike Conley and Greg Oden. There was even Home and Away varieties.
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Nike LeBron 5 “Ohio State” PE
Red patent leather. Chrome details on the strap. The Nike LeBron 5 was one of the best PEs given to the OSU basketball squad. The only complaint: they should’ve replace the LeBron Lion logo with one of Brutus Buckeye on the tongue branding.
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Nike LeBron 6 “Ohio State” PE
The LeBron 6 was the last pre-Petrie era LeBron but was still released to an unusual amount of acclaim when compared to LBJ’s previous models. The shoe would go on to be the one worn en route to his first MVP award so there’s some noteworthy prestige that comes with it. OSU’s variety featured a red and black carbon fiber, and Brutus Buckeye finally got some shine on the inner tongue.
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Nike LeBron 9 “Ohio State”
The defacto Buckeyes PE, this pair popped up when things were still a bit tense between LeBron and his home state. OSU didn’t mind though, as the Grey base paired with Scarlet accents made this pair easy to wear with either a Home or Away uniform selection. LeBron would even wear this pair himself during the NBA lockout as a part of Kevin Durant’s charity game in Oklahoma City.
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Nike LeBron 11 “Ohio State” PEs
Nothing really set OSU apart from the other squads that received the standard NIKEiD treatment for this LeBron 11 PE. You could see the jagged pattern on other squads like the Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats but there’s something about the Scarlet and Grey varieties that make these so head turning. The lace locks were even included in a silver color.
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Nike LeBron 12 “OSU” PE
The only LeBron PE to show up for the OSU squad this season, the silver helmet-mirroring look on the Hyperposite overlay is fitting, but the choice of Bright Crimson as the Megafuse base truly makes this pair stand out.
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