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Nike Air Max 97 HBCU Collection

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Nike Air Max 97 HBCU Collection: Meet the 4 Styles at Hibbett Launching 10/30 Colorway: WHITE/EMERALD GREEN/LAKE BLUE Style: Men's Sneakers

Release Date: October 30, 2026

Oct 26, 2026

School colors carry a little more meaning when they represent the place, traditions and community that helped shape you. The latest Nike Air Max 97 HBCU collection brings that pride to a sneaker known for its unmistakable wavy design, with university-inspired colorways made to stand out from campus to homecoming weekend. At Hibbett, four Nike Air Max 97 Yardrunners styles represent North Carolina A&T, Tuskegee, Clark Atlanta and Mississippi Valley State.

Each pair uses its school's colors and identity while bringing special details inspired by HBCU culture to the classic Air Max 97 silhouette. The larger Yardrunners collection also includes Coppin State, but I’ve intentionally left that shoe out of the Hibbett assortment language.

These four releases will be available at select Hibbett stores only.

The Nike Air Max 97 Yardrunners Collection Celebrates HBCU Culture

The 2026 Nike Yardrunners collection turns to the Air Max 97 to represent a new group of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Beyond matching each university's color palette, the collection incorporates official school emblems on the insoles and ribbon graphics inspired by university marching-band uniforms.

That marching-band influence gives the collection an especially fitting connection to HBCU game-day culture. School colors may catch your eye first, but details throughout the shoes help each pair tell its own campus story.

For Hibbett, that means four distinct takes on the Air Max 97.

Tuskegee Nike Air Max 97

Tuskegee Nike Air Max 97

The Tuskegee Air Max 97 starts with a mostly white and black foundation before Topaz and Brickhouse tones move across the layered upper. A gradient treatment brings additional color through the side of the shoe, giving Tuskegee's edition an identity beyond a straightforward school-color treatment.


It's university pride translated through one of Nike's most recognizable Air Max shapes.

North Carolina A&T Nike Air Max 97

North Carolina A&T Nike Air Max 97

Aggie pride takes over the Air Max 97 with Sail, Sport Royal and Varsity Maize running through the sneaker's layered upper. The North Carolina A&T design includes Aggies references on the insoles, heel and tongue, along with multicolor rope laces and a Varsity Maize full-length Air unit.


The mix of white, blue and gold makes the school connection clear while letting the Air Max 97's signature lines stay at the center of the design.

Clark Atlanta Nike Air Max 97

The Clark Atlanta Air Max 97 brings together Challenge Red, Metallic Silver and black.


Those contrasting colors follow the Air Max 97's flowing design, giving Panthers fans a sneaker that can anchor the rest of a game-day or everyday fit without losing the connection to Clark Atlanta.

Mississippi Valley State Nike Air Max 97

Mississippi Valley State Nike Air Max 97

The Mississippi Valley State Air Max 97 carries Delta Devil colors through a Court Green, Light Crimson and black palette.



Green and crimson give this pair plenty of visual energy, while black creates contrast through the Air Max 97's layered construction.

Campus Style Meets Air Max Heritage

These sneakers may represent four different universities, but they share one familiar foundation: the Nike Air Max 97.

That makes the collection easy to take beyond game day. Start with the sneakers and build the rest of the outfit around one or two school colors. Relaxed denim and a neutral tee keep the focus on the pair, while matching sweats, a varsity-inspired jacket or HBCU fan gear can take the school-pride angle further.

For homecoming weekends, campus events or everyday rotation, let the sneakers lead instead of matching every color from Toe-to-Head®.

That styling approach follows Hibbett's guidance to make the sneaker the hero while helping shoppers build a complete look, rather than simply listing apparel around it.

Find the Nike Air Max 97 HBCU Collection In Store at Hibbett

Represent your school from the ground up.

The North Carolina A&T, Tuskegee, Clark Atlanta and Mississippi Valley State Nike Air Max 97s will be available at select Hibbett stores only.*

Check local availability and find your nearest Hibbett store to see which Nike Air Max 97 HBCU colorway is available near you.

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