For a few years now, Nike has been granting their “Pro Combat” style uniforms to a select few teams. For example, both teams in last season’s early tilt between Boise State and Virginia Tech used the special uniforms.
Ohio State will be one of the teams wearing the Pro Combat uniforms in the 2011 season, and according to Brandon Harrison of the UW Athletic Department, this will be the design the Buckeyes will sport against the Badgers in Columbus this year:
What? Nike has a reputation for pulling some crazy things with their jerseys (see every Oregon jersey from the last few years), but most of them at least make a little bit of sense for the teams they’re supposed to represent. This one doesn’t make any sense at all. Ohio State has never used black in their colors and this uniform doesn’t evoke anything for the “Scarlet and Gray.”
I have a feeling that when Wisconsin fans switch to this game, likely on national TV, they wouldn’t have any idea who the Badgers were facing off against if not for the score bug. The Badgers will likely be wearing their standard road white uniforms. As Wisconsin is an Adidas school, there are no worries about Wisconsin joining the ridiculous Pro Combat fad anytime soon.