
The Michigan State Spartans are set to debut a new uniform combination for their game this evening against Purdue: black helmets, green jerseys, and black pants.
The team unveiled the new combo in a video:
fresh fit for Friday night pic.twitter.com/XbbWPVpqth
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 20, 2024
The new look features a green facemask paired with the black helmet. This will be the seventh unique uniform combo (out of 11 games) for the Spartans this season.
Here are a couple screen grabs from the video showing the new combo:



While I’m all for teams, especially at the collegiate level, trying out new combos — they are undoubtedly popular with the players and fans — I’ve never liked Sparty in black uniform elements. Their normal Spartan Green is quite dark, and it doesn’t pair well with black. Also, Sparty is a “green-white” team. BFBS may work for some schools, but not MSU. Not only that, but there is no black at all on the green jersey, so it’s sort of like trying to fit a round peg in a square hole.
But as I’ve said before, the uniforms aren’t designed for me, so it if fires up the team and the fans like it, then it’s all good. It’s not my cup of tea, but I’m looking at this from an aesthetic perspective. If it adds up to a Spartan victory, then good for them.
It’s not a guaranteed “W” for Michigan State, who come into this matchup looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Michigan State has lost six of their last seven games, and now sit at 4-6 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten play this year. The Spartans will need to win both of their final two games to reach bowl eligibility. Purdue comes into this matchup with even less success than the Spartans this year. The Boilermakers are 1-9 overall and 0-7 in Big Ten play, with their lone win coming in the season opener against FCS foe Indiana State.
Tonight’s game between Michigan State and Purdue kicks off at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.
What are your thoughts on this new uni combo?
I agree, it just doesn’t work given all the white elements on the green jersey. I don’t have a problem with MSU wearing black, I LIKE how green and black go together. Think this is a miss, though.
Brutal. The green and black are too close. Looks like a mistake…which this uniform clearly is.
Perfect summary.
This is what happens when Little Brother dresses himself. haha
Horrific
They should lean into the green. Black should be no part of their uniform.
I usually enjoy the black uniform look, but dark green with black just isn’t the look. White jerseys with black pants? yep, I can get on board with that but it’s all just almost the same color, which makes it look like it was a mistake, but maybe it will look better when its on the field?
These photo-ops with a fully geared-out football player in a non-football setting always crack me up. It all takes itself so seriously, but it all looks so goofy. This one reminds me of sad Batman from Parks & Rec.
Like, this guy appears to be walking down the railroad tracks, by himself, in a somewhat run-down old industrial area, in full uniform, cleats, pads, and Darth Vader helmet. Just chilling on the railroad tracks if full uniform. Totally normal and not silly-looking at all.
Here’s me and the lads in our football gear, hanging out on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Sometimes we put on the black tights and shoulder pads and go do some coal mining or climb a mountain. You know, everyday football stuff.
Also, let us not forget the very often posed player with his head down, squeezing a football between his hands at his chest.
This goes along with the often discussed pose of the athlete with his mouth open.
In marketing/design school, don’t they teach them anything else?,
Why would they break out this combo and then Purdue show up with black helmets/pants? Could have been a decent looking game if Purdue wore gold/white/gold.
“BFBS may work for some schools, but not MSU.”
I know it’s easy to just look at recent history and suggest this is the case.
And you are correct to a point. Our fight song even mentions the colors, “Green and White.”
But, in truth, MSU football wore black and gold uniforms from 1933 to 1947 under famed coach Charlie Bachman. Bachman (and the team) went 70-34-10 during that span experiencing some of the program’s first success (including the 1938 Orange Bowl as an independent).
Now, does MSU have the same history in black that Purdue, Army, OK St., or some other schools do? No.
But they do a history before 1990 wearing black.
All that being said, I’m not a fan of this combo. But the kids seem to love it.
Presently, the overall state of football uniforms is very poor and getting worse. Especially when garbage sets like these are introduced almost daily.
Ugh. Just, ugh.
IF the white jersey numbers had a black outline; or better yet black numbers w/a white outline this combo MIGHT work. But it looks incredibly mismatched.
Even a thin white outline on Sparty would have made the helme look better.
Note: better, but not good. They have too many great looking green/white helmet combos to be wasting a week on this unless, as you said the players like it. But maybe then we need to require a design appreciation course for the players…