Illini football reveals new uniforms for 2023

Illini football reveals new uniforms for 2023

If you are going to play well, you have to look good. With that in mind, Illini Football has revealed new uniforms for the 2023 season. Ironically enough, that has been one of the hottest topics around Illinois football leading up to Big Ten media days this week.

New look with ties to traditions.#Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy pic.twitter.com/DpvR8puHO5

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) July 24, 2023

The Illini got new uniforms back in 2018. They were an homage to the Dick Butkus era uniforms.

In 2020, head coach Bret Bielema made some adjustments to the current uniform, adding a block I to the pants and modified the helmet. There had been rumblings about new uniforms, but Bielema put those to rest. He wanted to adjust the uniforms when he was hired in 2020 but was not allowed to do so.

“We have new uniforms for (2023) that we will have full go,” Bielema said at a Fighting Illini Tailgate Tour stop in East Moline. “Even if I was here, they couldn’t have adjusted their uniforms for 2022. They weren’t allowing it. You can’t just come in and change. It takes production. Unveiling the new uniforms has been delayed, according to Bielema. “There is a supply-chain issue,” Bielema said, “but we’re not going to have a problem for the season.”

“I don’t want to do it halfway, but to fully do it,” Bielema said. “I would’ve liked to have done it sooner rather than later because I’d love to have (had) it out ahead of our first official visit weekend (last week). As much as I want to have the public see it and be a part of it, I want our players to be engaged with it.”

Some of the new features:

Much of the uniform is the same as before, but the additions are distinct. The Illini will still have the blue jersey and orange pants for home games, but they will have two road uniforms. One is all white, while the other has a white jersey with orange pants. Illinois football added striping on the shoulder pads. Home jerseys have orange stripes with a white interior. Road jerseys have navy stripes with an orange interior.

Player numbers received piping around the numbers. Home jerseys have orange piping, while road jerseys have navy piping around the numbers. Those additions give the jerseys a clean, streamlined look.