College football uniform changes 2026: new helmets and throwbacks arrive

The college football uniform changes 2026 fans will see this fall cover the whole closet: new apparel deals, throwback scripts, blackout alternates, chrome helmets and a few tweaks that will have traditionalists squinting at the TV.

CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford reported that more than a dozen Nike, Adidas and Under Armour programs have revealed updated sets or alternate combinations before kickoff, with Wisconsin and Notre Dame both using the Lambeau Field opener as a uniform showcase.

Which college football teams have new uniforms in 2026?

• Georgia Tech moved from Adidas to Under Armour on July 1 and, according to CBS Sports, has 12 possible combinations using white, gold, navy and dark anthracite. Georgia Tech said the shoulder striping takes cues from the Kessler Campanile on campus.

• Nebraska’s Adidas update changes the shoulder striping, number font and pants striping. The school said its new custom numerals were inspired by steel anvil edges and Nebraska crop rows.

• New Mexico State, now in a five-year Adidas deal, has shown a black uniform with a white helmet and a cursive wordmark decal, while CBS Sports noted fans have questioned whether maroon remains the Aggies’ primary look.

• Northwestern unveiled a purple alternate called “Purple Gothics,” with gothic-style striping, metallic gold numbers and a purple helmet featuring a metallic gold “N.”

• Notre Dame will wear an all-navy Under Armour Shamrock Series uniform against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. The school said the look nods to 1920s Acme Packers blue, Green Bay sleeve stripes, 11 consensus national titles and Paul Hornung-inspired block numbers.

• Ohio State is adding monochrome options called “Scarlet Rush,” “Sub Zero” and “Tunnel Vision,” while keeping its scarlet-and-gray home base and traditional white-and-gray road look, according to CBS Sports.

• Penn State’s Adidas debut keeps the Nittany Lions’ classic style mostly intact. CBS Sports reported the school’s Adidas deal is worth about $300 million over 10 years.

• Rice is back with Nike for the first time in more than a decade, with a blue helmet, blue jersey and blue pants look. CBS Sports identified a sleeker new font as the clearest change.

• South Carolina has switched from Under Armour to Nike, with a lighter Nike crimson shade and a simplified Block C helmet logo. Athletic director Jeremiah Donati said Nike’s standard in major sports fits South Carolina’s goals.

• TCU’s all-black Dublin game alternate “reimagines” its 2010 Pro Combat look, according to the school, bringing back frog-skin numbers and adding red details tied to the horned frog’s defense mechanism.

• Tennessee returned to Adidas after 11 years with Nike and has shown new looks across the athletic department, including planned “Dark Mode” black alternates and an Adidas version of “Smokey Grey,” according to CBS Sports.

• Texas Tech has updated its brand identity with a modern Double T, new fonts and Patrick Mahomes’ personal logo on jerseys and pants, according to CBS Sports.

• UTEP is marking its first Mountain West season with Adidas uniforms, updated helmet graphics and a Texas Western-inspired black-and-orange alternate with “TEXAS WESTERN” across the chest.

• West Virginia added a glossy white helmet after using a matte white version since 2013. A source told CBS Sports the change was first initiated by Rich Rodriguez.

What are Wisconsin and Notre Dame wearing at Lambeau?

Wisconsin’s “Our State” alternate, set for the Notre Dame opener, uses red and chrome and was designed to honor the state and championship trophies, according to CBS Sports. Its shoulder stripes reference the Packers’ modern three-stripe look, while rose red accents on the chrome helmet decals are tied to Wisconsin’s Rose Bowl appearances.

Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series set is also built for the Lambeau setting. The Shamrock Series is Notre Dame’s annual special-event uniform game, and this season’s version adds an American flag patch marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.