Cincinnati Uniform Schedule 2026: Every Jersey and When the Bearcats Wear It

Cincinnati has worn two different uniforms in two home games this season: all red under a white Cincy script helmet against Boston College, then black jerseys and black pants under the red C-Paw helmet for the first Nipp at Night against Western Carolina. This is the full Cincinnati 2026 uniform schedule: the black, red and white Nike sets, the helmet rotation, and a week-by-week outlook for all twelve games, including the final Victory Bell game at TQL Stadium this Saturday. We update this page as each combination is confirmed.

The Cincinnati 2026 Uniform Sets

The current wardrobe arrived in July 2025 with the start of Cincinnati's Nike deal, which runs through June 2029. Nike built three matching sets, Classic Black, Pure White and Cincy Red, and gave them the program's first two-tone numerals since 2007. The bigger change sat on top: a new helmet for the first time since 2019, with the Cincy script as an option next to the C-Paw. In 2025 the Bearcats opened in a red script helmet with all red against Nebraska, wore a black script helmet with red jerseys and black pants against UCF, and went black C-Paw helmet over all white at Utah. That mix and match habit is the whole story of a Cincinnati season, and it is why the grid below lists jersey color only for games that have not been played. We have not seen a 2026 alternate announced. Big 12 home teams wear color and visitors wear white.

The Full Cincinnati 2026 Uniform Schedule, Week by Week

September 5 vs. Boston College. ★ Confirmed from the broadcast: white helmet with the Cincy script, red jersey, red pants, the Cincy Red set head to toe under a white shell for the 3:30 p.m. opener at Nippert Stadium. It is the same all-red formula Cincinnati used to open 2025 against Nebraska, with the helmet flipped from red to white. Boston College wore gold helmets, white jerseys and gold pants. Cincinnati won 34-15.

September 12 vs. Western Carolina. ★ Confirmed from the broadcast: red helmet with the C-Paw, black jersey, black pants, the Classic Black set with the red shell for the first Nipp at Night of the season. Western Carolina was in white jerseys and purple pants. Cincinnati won 62-10 and ran for 418 yards. Kickoff was 7 p.m. Eastern.

September 19 vs. Miami (OH), TQL Stadium. Black or red expected. The Battle for the Victory Bell moves to FC Cincinnati's soccer stadium for the first football game ever played there, and Cincinnati is the designated home team, so Miami should be the side in white. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. This is the 129th meeting in one of the oldest non-conference rivalries in college football, Cincinnati leads 61-60-7, and with both schools moving to nine-game conference schedules there is no future game on the books. If the Bearcats have a one-off look planned for 2026, a new venue and a possible series finale is the obvious place for it.

September 26 vs. Kansas State. Black or red expected. The Big 12 opener at Nippert kicks off at 7 p.m. Eastern, a second Nipp at Night, and Kansas State wears white as the visitor. See the Kansas State 2026 uniform schedule for the Wildcats' side.

October 3 at Arizona. White expected. First Big 12 road game, and the visitor wears white.

October 10. Bye.

October 17 at West Virginia. White expected. It is homecoming in Morgantown, and the West Virginia 2026 uniform schedule has the Mountaineers in navy or gold.

October 24 vs. Texas Tech. Black or red expected. Texas Tech comes to Nippert in white.

October 31 vs. Utah. Black or red expected. Halloween at Nippert. Last year's meeting was Utah's all-black Dark Mode game in Salt Lake City, where Cincinnati wore a black C-Paw helmet over all white. This time the Utes are the visitors, and the Utah 2026 uniform schedule has them in white.

November 7 at Houston. White expected. The Bearcats and Cougars were conference rivals in the American before both moved to the Big 12.

November 14 at Iowa State. White expected. A November trip to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

November 21 vs. Colorado. Black or red expected. The last home game of the season, with Colorado in white per the Colorado 2026 uniform schedule.

November 28 at BYU. White expected. The regular season finale in Provo, where BYU wears royal at home, per the BYU 2026 uniform schedule.

The Bottom Line

Two games, two different sets and two different helmets: Cincinnati went all red under the white script shell for the opener and black under the red C-Paw shell for the first night game. That is the pattern to expect all fall. Road dates at Arizona, West Virginia, Houston, Iowa State and BYU should be white, and every home date is a choice between black and red, with three helmet colors and two logos on top. The Victory Bell game at TQL Stadium is the next reveal. The grid above has every date, and we fill in the stars as each uniform is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What jersey is Cincinnati wearing this week?

Cincinnati plays Miami (OH) at TQL Stadium on Saturday, September 19, as the designated home team, so a black or red jersey is expected, and the uniform has not been announced yet. Last week against Western Carolina the Bearcats wore a red C-Paw helmet with a black jersey and black pants. The grid above lists every game, and we update it as each combination is confirmed.

What are Cincinnati's football uniforms for 2026?

Three Nike sets introduced in 2025: Classic Black, Pure White and Cincy Red, each with matching pants, two-tone Speed Block numerals and the Cincy Stripe 2.0 on the sleeves and pants. The red jersey carries the Cincy wordmark. Helmets come in red, black and white, with either the C-Paw logo or the Cincy script.

Does Cincinnati have a new alternate uniform in 2026?

Not that has been announced. The 2026 rotation is the Nike wardrobe from 2025. The Victory Bell game at TQL Stadium, the first football game ever played there, is the most likely place for a special look if one exists, and we will add it here if it is revealed.

What did Cincinnati wear against Western Carolina?

A red helmet with the C-Paw logo, a black jersey and black pants for the first Nipp at Night of 2026. Western Carolina wore white jerseys with purple pants. Cincinnati won 62-10.

What did Cincinnati wear against Boston College?

A white helmet with the Cincy script, a red jersey and red pants in the 34-15 season-opening win at Nippert Stadium. It was the same all-red approach Cincinnati used to open 2025 against Nebraska, when the script helmet was red.

How many games does Cincinnati play in 2026?

Twelve regular season games: six at Nippert Stadium, one home game against Miami (OH) at TQL Stadium, and five Big 12 road games, with a bye on October 10. The full schedule with expected uniforms is in the grid above.