Football Is All About Fashion

For the past couple of years, Nike has handpicked 10 teams to wear its coveted Pro Combat College Football Uniforms. They're the football equivalent of Speedo's LZR Racer that Michael Phelps wore in the 2008 Olympics, transforming an entire sport. Everybody wants one.

It's a much different ballgame today than it was in the '80s when Ouiser Boudreaux exclaimed in the Southern favorite Steel Magnolias, "This is football. All the people wanna hear about are touchdowns and injuries. They don't give a damn 'bout that grape shit [meaning the color of the uniforms]."

Ahem, Ms. Boudreaux, they evidently do as it's been trending all afternoon on Google.

Since you care, we investigated which teams are getting the special treatment. They are the Virginia Tech Hokies, Boise State Broncos, Alabama Tide, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon State Beavers, Miami (whose mascot is Sebastian, the Ibis, but are better known as "The U"), Texas Christian Horned Frogs, Pittsburgh Panthers, Florida Gators and West Virginia Mountaineers.

If you want a near religious experience, visit Nike's pimped-out website, where a voiceover grunts each team's significance. It's been upgraded from last year's website, but a few teams made the cut both years. Those that were downgraded include Texas, Florida State, Missouri, Louisiana State and Oklahoma.

Maybe Nike wanted to steer clear of the Big 12 reorganization, or maybe these 10 new teams have what it takes to give some big hits this season. We'll find out this weekend when college football begins — just make sure you're watching in HD. We wouldn't want you to miss Alabama's houndstooth collars. Fabuuuuulooooous!

Screengrab via Nike.