The Oklahoma State football program will celebrate its 125th season by wearing 1900s-inspired throwback uniforms during Saturday’s Homecoming matchup with Arizona State (7 p.m. ET on FS1).
The uniforms feature a matte black helmet with an interlocking “OA” on the sides that served as the official emblem of the O.A. Association, an organization formed by the student-athletes at Oklahoma A&M in 1909.
The emblem was used until 1913, when the association – which still exists today as the O-Club and awards “O” letters to the Cowboys’ varsity student-athletes – dropped the “A” from its name.
The front helmet bumper includes an “OAMC” wordmark that was worn by former head coach Ed Parry in a 1908 team photo, while the back bumper includes a script “Tigers” wordmark as a nod to the institution’s original nickname.
The nickname fell out of favor in the 1920s, with “Aggies” and “Cowboys” being used interchangeably instead until Oklahoma A&M was elevated to university status and became Oklahoma State in 1957.
Meanwhile, the most unique aspect of the throwback uniforms are the horizontal orange stripes on the black long sleeves and socks that will be worn with the Cowboys’ present-day black jerseys and pants, as they appeared on Oklahoma A&M’s uniforms from 1901-21.
This design choice was, of course, inspired by their original nickname. The uniforms are complete with a “125” decal on the back of the helmet that also includes an Oklahoma State wordmark, the Cowboys’ primary logo and a football.
