Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Names. All Game. That’s what many people think of when they hear Penn State Nittany Lions. Simple, old fashioned and basic, how it should be. Ever since Penn State began, suppliers like Nike have followed the tradition and stuck to basic uniforms since the beginning, and Adidas will ruin the tradition.
Penn State made an agreement with Adidas for a 10 year contract starting on July 1, 2026. There have been photos of potential Adidas uniforms floating around on Instagram, and I have to say that I am not a fan. Ever since Penn State began, the uniforms have been basic and simple. The images floating around show two potential football uniforms, a navy blue one and a black and pink one. The navy one is pretty basic, but on the shoulder pads there is a navy blue camo pattern. This completely defeats the simplicity that Penn State has built and kept. Adding a pink and black one completely blows the tradition away.
Nike also helps build recruitment. When anyone thinks of sports brands or athletic brands most people would think of Nike. Nike sets a staple, and if a school is sponsored by Nike, then it seems more of a powerhouse. Nike uniforms always look good, and uniforms could be a potential factor in choosing what school to commit to.
Nike consistently produces some of the best gear for athletes. Pro sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, NBA and WNBA all use Nike to create their uniforms. Staying with Nike will ensure that players will get top tier equipment while switching to a different brand like Adidas could set off current athletes with Penn State because playing in Nike uniforms has become a tradition.
Switching sponsors could also pose a negative reaction from the fans. I for one completely disagree with the change and I guarantee that multiple Penn State fans will also agree with me. My brother, who is the biggest Penn State fan I know, is outraged by the change and thinks that they should’ve just stayed with Nike.
Whether you love it or hate it, Nike uniforms have become a Penn State Tradition. Nike and Penn State have been partners for over 30 years and seeing it go is disappointing. Just the thought of seeing Penn State’s tradition slowly disappear through Adidas is something that would outrage and disappoint college football fans.
