Houston Cougars football unveils baby blue alternate uniforms honoring Houston Oilers

H-Town will be baby blue again.

The University of Houston football team unveiled alternate uniforms on Thursday for its upcoming season that pay tribute to the city's history with the sport. The Nike uniforms feature a baby blue jersey with red accents and white pants with baby blue and white stripes down the side. The white helmet has the word "Houston" in baby blue outlined in red with baby blue and red stripes running down the center.

While the Cougars don't directly name the Houston Oilers in their rollout of the uniforms, the professional team donned baby blue when they played in the city. As one of the inaugural members of the AFL in the 1960s, they won the league's first two championships. After the NFL merger, their fans spawned the "Luv Ya Blue" movement in the 1970s.

The uniforms will be worn Saturday and the end zones at TDECU Stadium will be painted baby blue for the Cougars' season opening game. The matchup against the UTSA Roadrunners will be Houston's Big 12 debut. The school is offering a $15 dollar "Love You Houston" ticket deal for the big day.

The team revealed the uniforms in promotional video on X that is narrated by Olympic track legend Carl Lewis, who now serves as the school's track and field head coach. The nine-time gold medalist reflects on the city's strength in community as well as the history of the football program.

"Houston is tradition, a place with a long history of winning, always pushing the limits and never giving up," Lewis said. "... Houston is home. This city, rich in culture, instilled with pride, this place is more than just a pin on the map. It's a way of life. This is for the city that always has our back. This one is for the people that call this place home. Love you Houston. This one's for you."

In the 1970s and 1980s, head coach Bill Yeoman established the school's presence in the national football landscape. He led the team to the the 1976 Southwest Conference championship and concluded the season with a Cotton Bowl win over Maryland. Andre Ware was the first Black quarterback to win the Heisman trophy in 1989.

Two years after Yeoman's departure in 1986, the NCAA put the school on three-year probation when it found recruiting violations and improper payments to players.

The Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997 and became the Tennessee Titans in 1999. The Houston Texans made their NFL debut in 2002.

The Titans are also paying tribute to the Oilers with alternate uniforms this season. This summer, they unveiled baby blue jerseys with red accents and white helmets with baby blue and red stripes.