Matt Varga The college football schedule has its peaks and valleys, but fans can always circle certain rivalry games on the schedule. With Penn State now tumbling to unranked status, their upcoming bout with Ohio State certainly loses a bit of its playoff luster, yet don’t expect the grudge match aspect to be removed by any means. For the Buckeyes, they’ll have some special swag in tow as they take the field, as LeBron James just pulled back the curtain on two pairs of LeBron 23 cleats for the occasion.
It’s a two-way street with these special makeovers—obviously, again a highlight of the Swoosh’s increased focus on high-heat performance wear for the gridiron. By pulling the LeBron 23 “Grand Opening” colorway, it’s also a splashy moment for the King’s silhouette, the latest in a string of signals that Nike and the King regard it as one of the more totemic chapters in his signature line. For either version, the basketball shoe’s overall arrangement remains rather faithful, replete with knit uppers, the crown chassis that’s been a defining aspect of the LeBron 23 the whole way, and icy cleat bottoms from the Vapor Pro 1 and Alpha Menace 4 Elite.
Famously, the King opted for a prep-to-pro route rather than a collegiate one, but his honorary status as an alumnus of his hometown university has only strengthened in recent years. Performance overtures to the Buckeyes have been a constant drumbeat in the fall, both in James’ own sport and increasingly on the football field, visited with a LeBron 4 “Graffiti” cleat in 2023.
As you might expect, the Nike LeBron 23 “Grand Opening” Vapor Pro 1 Cleat and Alpha Menace 4 Elite Cleat won’t be hitting the market. Buckeyes fans (or any of our readership) can get a closer look at what Ohio State will be rocking come Saturday, November 1, via the images below.
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