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- The Friday before Labor Day
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College Colors Day rallies fans and alumni across the United States every Friday before Labor Day. This annual tradition encourages everyone to proudly wear their college colors and apparel, showcasing unwavering school spirit. Whether you’re a current student, a proud graduate, or a dedicated fan, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate your favorite institution. Join the nationwide display of pride, share your team’s colors, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.
Want to sponsor College Colors Day? Learn how
Expected College Colors Day Deals
As College Colors Day approaches, expect a surge in promotions from major retailers and collegiate licensing partners. In 2026, look for deals from brands like Fanatics, offering discounts on licensed apparel, jerseys, and accessories. Dick’s Sporting Goods will likely feature sales on team gear, while university bookstores both online and on campus will run special bundles. Apparel giants such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour often participate with exclusive collegiate lines. Fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A or Domino’s might offer gameday specials or student discounts. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 4 approaches.
Platform Guide for College Colors Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #CollegeColorsDay. Share photos of your best college gear, campus throwbacks, or game day outfits.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #CollegeColorsDay. Create short videos showcasing your school pride, dorm room decor, or gameday traditions.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #CollegeColorsDay. Join the conversation with fellow fans, share gameday predictions, or post photos from your college days.
College Colors Day Hero
Bill Bowerman
History of College Colors Day
School colors are more than just accessories when it comes to universities. They are an extension of a school’s identity and for many people to their own identity or symbol of pride. Many schools choose their colors with a significant amount of care. Whether you were in the creative arts, sports, or financing, it’s likely you have a special connection to your school’s colors.
Founded by the College Licensing Company in 2004, College Colors Day, fans get to rep the apparel of their favorite college or university throughout the day. Who is the CLC you might ask? They are the licensing division for over 200 colleges in the United States. Famous for developing brand licensing and building the massive fan-base behind the University of Alabama with Bear Bryant in 1981, the CLC is largely responsible for providing the college branded merchandise we value so much today. From Boston College to Stanford University you can thank them for your koozies, your jerseys, and your branded hats because it’s likely they licensed them!
Over the last few years, the CLC has seen a huge increase in sales, more than expected from the influx of students getting degrees. Recently we’ve even seen celebrities sporting the attire of a university they most-certainly never attended. This shows that there is a nostalgic factor associated with fashion that goes even beyond personal attachments. College apparel has gone from an elitist group of exclusively students and alumni to a badge of honor to a place you are loyal to. Which is largely the point of the holiday, finding pride in your “home” and a community in loyalty.
College Colors Day timeline
Harvard University is established as one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the U.S.
The first College Bowl takes place following the Rose Parade in California.
CLC signs its first licensing agreement with Bear Bryant.
In an act of sheer devotion, Boise State University installs “The Blue,” making it the first non-green stadium field.
The first College Colors Day takes place, encouraging students from schools of all sizes to show off their colors.
How Businesses Can Celebrate College Colors Day
Local businesses can tap into College Colors Day by encouraging employees to wear their favorite college apparel, fostering a fun and spirited workplace. Restaurants and bars near college campuses can offer gameday specials or student discounts for those sporting their school colors. Retailers can create window displays featuring collegiate merchandise or host a ‘spirit wear’ contest with prizes. Agencies might share team photos of their staff showing off their alma mater pride, engaging with their community and celebrating higher education.
College Colors Day FAQs
When is College Colors Day?
College Colors Day 2026 falls on Friday, September 4. This annual observance is perfectly timed to kick off the college football season and rally school spirit nationwide.
How many people attend college in the U.S.?
Approximately 19 million students are enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions across the United States. College Colors Day offers a unifying moment for this vast student body and millions of alumni to celebrate their institutions.
Who created College Colors Day?
College Colors Day was established by The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), the licensing affiliate of IMG College. Their goal was to promote school spirit and the sale of officially licensed collegiate merchandise, aligning with the start of the college football season.
Why is College Colors Day celebrated on a Friday?
College Colors Day is strategically placed on the Friday before Labor Day to coincide with the unofficial start of the college football season. This timing builds excitement for upcoming games and encourages fans to don their gear for the long weekend.
College Colors Day Activities
Take a #famphoto, #selfie, or #squadphoto to show off that college spirit
Show your ultimate college spirit by sporting your favorite team's colors with your friends. Nothing says "GO TEAM!" like a selfie with your squad decked out in your alma mater colors (don't forget to use the hashtag #CollegeColors!)
Attend or watch your favorite college football game
College campuses on game day are one of the most energetic places to be — walking around, you'd think everyone just won the lottery! Celebrate the best college way possible: tailgating and watching the football game with friends. There's no better all-encompassing college experience like game day.
Organize a night out with your college friends
Not only is college a place for sports, traditions, and fun, it's also a place to build lifelong friendships. To show your school loyalty, organize a get-together with your favorite college buddies. Reminisce about those glory days, relive those traditions, and show how the college spirit lives in each one of you.
5 FUN FACTS ABOUT COLLEGE COLORS
Arkansas
University of Arkansas’ students voted on their school colors in 1895.
University of Florida
UF adopted its two colors as an homage to the two schools that merged together to form UF: University of Florida at Lake City (blue) and East Florida Seminary (orange and black).
Vanderbilt
It’s said that Vanderbilt’s family chose the colors to represent his success in the coal industry (black) and his fortune (gold).
University of Miami
For UM, the orange symbolizes the fruit of the tree, green represents the leaves and white, the blossoms.
Tennessee
In 1889, a cluster of orange and white daisies was found growing on the grounds. Athletics association president Charles Moore liked the colors and adopted them as UT’s official colors.
WHY WE LOVE COLLEGE COLORS DAY
#Sports
Coinciding with "back to school" and the kick-off of intercollegiate sports, College Colors Day gets us in that exciting, crazy-about-sports, college mindset. Even if your school years are behind you, wearing your colors makes you feel like a college senior again!
Camaraderie
Rallying behind a team creates a cohesive environment where we feel accepted and included among a larger population. It elicits positivity and keeps us connected for a common cause with a "we're all in this together" mentality.
It keeps tradition alive
College colors, especially on game day, are symbols of traditions, history, rivalry, joy, fun, and even bitterness. There's something great and powerful in participating in something that's been around for decades and showing it off.
College Colors Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 29 | Friday |
| 2026 | September 4 | Friday |
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