Jersey Judgement: Nike NCAA National Championship Uniforms
We're only six days into 2015 and it's already a historic year in sports, especially in the NCAA. This college football season marks the first ever national championship playoff, and two Nike teams - Ohio State and Oregon - have made it to title game on January 12th. The uniforms leaked last week as they were available to purchase via the Nike Store but now, Nike Football has finally released the backstory to uniforms and some very intense photos.
Much like the last series of NCAA football uniforms, the Nike Mach Speed uniforms embody a superhero theme, complete with menacing wings and capes. (Imagine if Nike made the mascots too? They'd be terrifying yet amazing.) One of the most interesting details of both uniforms is the use of the fractal diamond swoosh on both the pants and jersey, which is almost holographic and reminiscent of 90's swooshes on sneakers.
The Oregon Ducks uniforms is sleek and tonal, using a white jersey, wolf grey pants and silver accents on the clothing and on accessories like the wings on the helmet and the diamond swoosh. Little details are harder to appreciate, like the fact that the chest graphic on the Ducks' base layer is angled specifically to 27 degrees to represent the Ducks 27 bowl game appearances. However one glaring commission from the Ducks kit is the lack of their two primary school colors - green and yellow. The only whisper of green is in the gloves, which reveal the color when the player flexes his hands. Nike is known for using the Ducks squad as their gear and apparel test monkeys and since there is no repercussion from the NCAA governing body on colorways, Nike is free to experiment and give the Ducks custom jerseys for single game!
The Ohio State is more traditional with the use of color blocking and is inspired by the stylings of the 1968 Buckeyes uniform. The Buckeyes will sports a home red jersey, also with wolf grey pants and silver and white touches. The updated old school uniform features the traditional grey helmut, ready to be adorned with Buckeye stickers as well as stripes down the pants, across the shoulders and in the center of the helmet. It should be noted that between the two teams there are only six colors used. Gone are the days of a clashtastic final match up a la any Boise State game.
If I had to pick a favorite between the two uniforms, one that updates the past and the other that looks to the near future of sportswear - it would be the Ducks. The silver wings, the tonal styling (very on trend) and little details really make the uniform special yet still understated. Take a better look at the uniforms and in-game accessories below and let us know which team you'd ride with aesthetically speaking and your pick for the big game on Monday.
Source: Nike.com
