Oklahoma is wearing its dark gray “Unity” jerseys to promote a message of togetherness and to honor former Sooners running back Prentice Gautt, the program’s first Black scholarship football player.

What the Unity jerseys are

  • The jerseys are an anthracite (dark gray) alternate with crimson accents, worn once per season in recent years.
  • Instead of individual player names, the word “UNITY” appears on the nameplate, with “TOGETHER” featured on the uniform as part of the design concept.

Why OU created them

  • A group of OU student‑athletes designed the Unity look starting around 2020 to emphasize unity, relationships, and social progress on and off the field.
  • The uniforms are meant to be a visible statement that everyone wearing “Sooners” is one team and one community, regardless of background.

Honoring Prentice Gautt

  • The Unity uniforms specifically honor Prentice Gautt, who became Oklahoma’s first Black scholarship football player in the late 1950s and later a major leader in student‑athlete welfare.
  • OU leadership has framed the uniform as a tribute to Gautt’s pioneering role and lifelong work supporting student‑athletes and opening doors for future Sooners.

When they wear them

  • OU has worn the Unity jerseys once each season under Brent Venables, usually for a designated special game.
  • Recently, they have often been tied to Military Appreciation Day or a marquee home matchup, which is why you’re seeing them in a high‑profile game.

Fan and media reaction

  • Some fans love the modern anthracite look, while others prefer Oklahoma’s traditional crimson and cream and see the alternates as unnecessary.
  • National outlets have highlighted the Unity set as one of the more distinctive alternate uniforms in college football, noting both the design and the social message behind it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.