The Ohio State football program on Friday afternoon unveiled new all-gray alternate uniforms, which it will wear during its Nov. 11 game against Michigan State (7:30 p.m. on NBC).
The gray jersey will be paired with the Buckeyes’ standard gray helmet and slightly darker pants than their usual home and away uniforms to help with contrast against the Spartans’ road white jerseys.
The helmet stripe is carried over to the sleeves, matching the pattern on Ohio State’s home scarlet jersey, as well. The jerseys also include traditional block numbers in scarlet with a white stroke.
The uniform is complete with the Buckeyes’ athletic logo at the base of the collar, scarlet B1G logo on the right chest, scarlet Nike Swoosh on the jersey and pants, gray socks and scarlet cleats.
Ohio State is 26-8 all-time while wearing alternate or throwback uniforms, including 15-2 at home, 2-1 against Michigan State and 1-0 in all-gray, though that design was much different.
The Buckeyes’ dark gray “Land of the Wolves” alternate, worn in a 39-38 win over Penn State in 2017, featured a fur pattern on the helmet, numbers and socks and scarlet Buckeye Leaf decals on the helmet.
The Nittany Lions actually protested the contrast of their uniforms against the all-white road uniforms, putting the uniform’s debut in jeopardy, but there were ultimately no issues once they hit the field.
This will also mark the second time Ohio State has debuted a new look against the Spartans, as the program introduced white alternate pants during a 52-12 win in East Lansing in 2020.
Sources have indicated this will likely be the only non-playoff alternate the Buckeyes wear this season, though they have the aforementioned white pants and an all-black option at their disposal.
Additionally, this confirms our report that Ohio State is moving to Nike’s Vapor F.U.S.E. template on a full-time basis this season after debuting the chassis in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve.