Ole Miss is heading into a new apparel era, but the biggest question for fans is simple: what happens to the uniforms?
The Rebels announced a seven-year deal with adidas this week that makes the brand the school’s official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline partner starting July 1, 2027. The agreement runs through June 2034, and it ends Ole Miss’ 27-year run with Nike.
That kind of switch always gets attention, but in Oxford it carries extra weight. Ole Miss has built one of the most recognizable visual identities in college sports, anchored by red and blue, script lettering and a steady stream of different uniform looks.
So adidas isn’t walking into a blank slate. It’s stepping into a program that already knows exactly who it is.
For Keith Carter, that part matters just as much as the new partnership itself.
"Just as importantly, adidas understands and respects what makes Ole Miss special, including our iconic colors, marks and uniforms," Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter said. "We are excited to build on those traditions while creating new opportunities to grow our brand, elevate our student-athlete experience, increase our retail presence and position Ole Miss for long-term, sustained success."
That’s the message Ole Miss fans want to hear: change, yes, but not at the expense of the look that has become part of the Rebels’ identity.
Football is where that balance will be tested most. Ole Miss has one of the deepest uniform rotations in the sport, mixing classic red and navy combinations with alternate looks that have caught on with fans. Powder blue has become especially tied to the program, while the traditional colors still hold their place.
In recent years, the Rebels have made a habit of keeping things fresh from week to week. In 2024, they wore seven different combinations in their first seven games. The powder blue helmet, jersey and different pant pairings have become regular pieces of the rotation, giving each Saturday a little extra anticipation.
Adidas will have freedom to add its own ideas, but it won’t be building from scratch. Ole Miss already has traditional red, navy and white looks, gray pants and, above all, that powder blue collection that has become a signature of the modern program.
The challenge for adidas is obvious: protect what works while still making the switch feel new. The company has shown it can use college partnerships to tell a school’s story.
In 2025, adidas rolled out custom alternate uniforms for seven of its college partners, including Mississippi State, with each design tied to school traditions and culture. Mississippi State’s alternate used maroon and state pride in an all-black design.
Ole Miss gives adidas plenty to work with. The Rebels could keep building around powder blue, bring back pieces from classic looks or create something that points to a specific part of school history. However it plays out, the brand will be trying to add something fresh without losing the uniform identity that already made Ole Miss stand out.
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Ole Miss Fans Have One Big Uniform Fear With Adidas Coming In
Ole Miss is entering a new era in more ways than one. The Rebels have signed a seven-year apparel deal with Adidas, ending a 27-year run with Nike and giving the school a fresh partner across all 18 varsity programs. The agreement also expands name, image and likeness opportunities for student-athletes, while the university says it will keep creative control over uniform design.
For fans, though, the first question is a simple one: what happens to the football look they have come to love? No official details have been released yet on how Adidas will handle the Rebels uniforms, including the popular powder blue sets, and that uncertainty is already driving the conversation around the switch. The business side of the deal is set, but the part that will matter most on Saturdays is still waiting to be seen. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Is Making A Uniform Change Fans Will Definitely Notice
Ole Miss is heading into a major wardrobe shift, with athletics announcing a seven-year partnership with adidas that begins July 1, 2027. The move ends a 27-year run with Nike and will outfit all 18 varsity programs with adidas apparel, footwear and equipment, while also bringing expanded Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for student-athletes.
What figures to matter just as much to fans is how the Rebels look will change, because both sides say they plan to keep the schools traditional colors and marks intact. Even so, a new supplier usually means new details, new uniform concepts and a fresh branding push, so the rollout will be one to watch as Ole Miss starts sketching out the next era of its on-field identity. [Read more 🡒]
Eli Manning Just Put Ole Miss Fans In An Awkward Spot
Eli Manning has managed to make a simple family question a little more complicated for Ole Miss fans ahead of the Rebels trip to Austin. In an interview, the former Rebels quarterback said he will be pulling for his nephew, Arch Manning, and Texas in the upcoming matchup, even though Ole Miss is the school he helped define during his own playing days.
Mannings reasoning was as straightforward as it was awkward for the fan base: he said he has only a limited window to root for Arch during his college career, while remaining a lifelong supporter of Ole Miss outside of that. Arch, the starting quarterback at Texas, has already drawn national attention for his play, which only adds another layer to a game that will have plenty of eyes on it. [Read more 🡒]