Indiana Hoosiers Set to Debut New Alternate Uniforms

Indiana men's and women's basketball will wear new alternate uniforms this month as part of adidas' 'Honoring Black Excellence' initiative for Black History Month. 

Adidas announced the uniforms in a post on X (formerly Twitter), with a video that both honored Indiana's history of Black players and highlighted the features of the new uniforms. 

The new uniforms feature an all-Crimson front, off-center IU trident near the right shoulder, and white numbers on the front. The side stitching has a special Black History pattern, while the back of the uniforms are black with red numbers. 

Adidas and Indiana have collaborated on Black History uniforms before. During the 2023 season, Indiana and adidas unveiled their first Honoring Black Excellence uniforms, white jerseys with a flower pattern behind the letters and numbering. Indiana wore those uniforms again last year. 

Indiana was also selected by Adidas to be one of just two programs to wear last year's limited "Fear of God" uniforms. Those uniforms were a bigger departure from Indiana's standard fare, with all black jerseys and shorts accented by red highlights. 

While the black uniforms drew mixed reviews from a fanbase that loves its tradition, Adidas signaled that it would honor Indiana's classic uniforms going forward. The relatively straightforward uniforms that Indiana football debuted this fall demonstrate that commitment to Indiana's traditional uniform schemes. 

The special uniforms reflect that Indiana is still one of the top schools for the brand with the three stripes. adidas has been Indiana's apparel partner since 2004, and the two agreed to a 10-year extension this summer. 

Indiana's partnership with adidas has extended beyond apparel in the past. During the 2022-23 season, Indiana players Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino were among the first class of Adidas NIL athletes. No other school had more than one player represented. 

Fans who like the new jerseys can swing by the Adidas shop online to grab a replica. Adidas has drawn ire from Indiana fans before by refusing to sell College Football Playoff jerseys for the Hoosiers, so this move shows they're responsive to fan feedback as well. 

There's been no announcement as to which games Indiana will wear the new uniforms, but expect to see them this month for Black History Month. We could also see them for more than one game or season, since the last Honoring Black Excellence uniforms appeared in multiple games across two seasons.