Nebraska Huskers “Wear Black” Hoodie

On October 31, 2026 the Nebraska Cornhuskers host Washington at Memorial Stadium for their second annual Blackout game, kicking off at 7 p.m. Central on BTN with the team in black alternate uniforms trimmed in metallic red. It is Nebraska’s first Halloween home game since 2015 and the first meeting with Washington since 2011. The Nebraska Huskers “Wear Black” Hoodie is made for a crowd being asked to dress the part.

Front and back of the hoodie beside a stadium shot of a player in the black uniform, dated 10.31.26.

Where the Black Comes From

Black means defence in Lincoln. When college football moved to two-platoon play in the 1960s, Bob Devaney’s staff needed a way to separate the defensive starters in practice. Assistant coach Mike Corgan bought black pullover jerseys for them, most likely early in the 1964 season, and the “Blackshirts” were born. Earning a black practice jersey is still the mark of a Nebraska defensive starter, and the skull-and-crossbones Blackshirts emblem on this hoodie has become one of the program’s best-known symbols.

The setting matters just as much. Memorial Stadium has been sold out for every game since November 3, 1962, a run of more than 400 straight sellouts that is the longest in college football history. Filling it with black instead of red for one night is a rare change, and that is exactly why fans want the right gear for it.

Design Details

• Front: “NEBRASKA” in tall distressed red letters above a white “FOOTBALL” panel, with the Blackshirts skull emblem beside it.
• Back: “BLACKOUT” in distressed white over a red-and-black football helmet graphic, “MEMORIAL STADIUM” in red and the skull-and-crossbones “Blackshirts” emblem.
• Colour: black body with red and white artwork.
• Build: pullover hoodie with drawstring hood, kangaroo pocket, ribbed cuffs and waistband, taped neck and shoulders.
• Fabric: soft, lightweight polyester.
• Print: dye-sublimation, so the artwork will not crack or peel.

Front: “Nebraska Football” with the Blackshirts emblem.

Size Guide

Measured flat; allow 1–3 cm for hand finishing. Chest is measured 2 cm below the armpit.

Back: “Blackout,” the helmet graphic, “Memorial Stadium” and the Blackshirts skull.

Game Night and Beyond

A 7 p.m. kickoff in Lincoln on the last night of October is cold, so a hoodie is the practical answer: wear it over a long-sleeve tee and under an open jacket so the back still shows in the stands. After the blackout it works for every late-season game, tailgates and watch parties wherever Husker fans gather. As a gift it suits anyone who has a Blackshirts story, from former players to the fan who has not missed a home game in decades.

Wash cold and inside out, hang to dry and iron on the reverse if needed.

Husker fans can also find a Nebraska Huskers x Kansas City Chiefs baseball cap at our sister shop League Locker Gear, and more game-day layers in our hoodies and outerwear section.

Questions Fans Ask

When is the Nebraska blackout game?

Saturday, October 31, 2026, against Washington at Memorial Stadium, with a 7 p.m. Central kickoff on BTN.

What are the Blackshirts?

Nebraska’s defensive starters, named for the black practice jerseys first handed out in the 1964 season. The skull-and-crossbones emblem on the back is their symbol.

Is the hoodie only for the blackout game?

No. “Blackout” and “Memorial Stadium” are on the back, but nothing ties it to one date, so it works for every game.

How warm is it?

It is a lightweight polyester hoodie, so layer a long-sleeve underneath and a jacket on top for a cold night game.