Nike And The NCAA Are Releasing An Air Max Collection

Nobody sponsors more schools than Nike, and if you didn’t already know, they’re releasing a huge Air Max “NCAA Pack” that includes special pairs for some of the biggest names in collegiate sports. The model of choice here is the Air Max Solo, a new-ish silhouette that released last year and has since flown under the radar in the Beaverton brand’s Air Max lineup.

Given Nike’s lack of marketing for the Air Max Solo and the shoe’s $100 price point, the prevailing notion until now was that Nike thinks of the Solo amongst the likes of the Air Max SC, Air Max Excee, other outlet specialties. While this NCAA collection suits that positioning strategy to some extent, comparable in essence to team-edition Jordans, it also serves to propel the model’s visibility as a whole.

Eleven Nike-sponsored schools get their own special pairs here, all of which follow the same color blocking formula. Shoes for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas make up the pack. Team colors appear notably on the toe, collar, and base under layered mesh fabric, matched by collegiate typography and school logos on the tongue and insoles, respectively.

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Turning to the silhouette itself, the Air Max Solo falls into the category of hybrid shoes, a distinction that’s typically hit or miss among sneakerheads. The textured air unit of the Air Max 180 is incorporated into the Solo’s presentation underfoot, while the cupped heel of the Air Max 90 informs the design of the rear. The mesh base and suede panels utilized in the “NCAA Pack” align with the Solo’s typical material makeup, to no surprise.

Enjoy images of each colorway below and return to our Sneaker Release Dates page for updates; no release date has been set at the time of this writing, but pairs should hit nike.com later this year for $100 each.