Nike has supported HBCUs, and its latest move is to support HBCU bands. Nike has unveiled a new Yardrunners collection featuring several new Air Max 97 colorways. The new colorways spotlight North Carolina A&T, Clark Atlanta University, Tuskegee, Coppin State, and Mississippi Valley State.

The shoes feature band uniform-inspired insoles and include a whistle, calling back to the drum major tradition at HBCUs. The Air Max 97 colorways will release later this year, during the holiday season.

This is the latest opportunity HBCU bands have received to collaborate with a national brand. Texas Southern earned a feature in Vogue this summer, while Southern University appeared in Gap's “Denim on Your Own” campaign. Grambling took part in Urban Outfitters' “All Together Now” campaign, and Jackson State recently landed a collaborative partnership with Zaxby's.

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Launched in 2020, Nike's Yard Runners initiative is now in its sixth year. Led by Nike employees who are HBCU alumni, the program pairs creativity with purpose, teaming up with trailblazers to develop products and stories that leave a lasting mark on the HBCU community. Last year, Nike Yardrunners released the Air Max 95 “HBCU Pack” that featured colorways from Florida A&M, Norfolk State, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.

Nike is not the first major athletic brand to partner with HBCUs. In 2024, Adidas teamed up with several HBCUs on a collection of Crazy 8 Low sneakers, releasing them in time for that year's homecoming season. The colorways represented Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University.