Tennessee's cream uniform is back, now made by adidas. Tennessee Basketball revealed its new cream adidas uniform on Friday, October 30. It has an orange "Vols" script across the chest, double orange stripes around the collar, arms and shorts, and one change most fans will spot right away: the adidas trefoil on the chest where the Nike swoosh used to be. The team says it debuts on 11.17, which on Tennessee's schedule is Tuesday, November 17, against Michigan State at Food City Center.
Tennessee's cream uniform reveal, via @Vol_Hoops
The team announced it with an ice cream shop video captioned "I scream, you scream." The post reads: "new @adidas cream unis debut 11.17."
What the New Cream Uniform Looks Like
Here is every piece, from the team's reveal video and studio photos:
- Cream jersey with "Vols" in orange script across the chest. The script and the numbers have a thin white outline, which helps them stand out against the cream.
- Orange numbers below the script.
- Double orange stripes around the V-neck collar and both armholes, with a thin cream line between the two stripes.
- The adidas trefoil in orange on the right chest. This is the old-school adidas Originals logo, not the three-bar adidas logo.
- The SEC logo at the point of the V-neck, centered on the collar.
- The Axle Logistics patch on the left chest. Axle became the first jersey patch sponsor for Tennessee's men's and women's basketball teams in August.
- Cream shorts with an orange waistband, the same double orange stripe at the hem and an orange trefoil on the front leg.
The player in the reveal also wore cream socks with an orange trefoil and orange shoes. The orange headband in the photos has the three-bar adidas logo, so the trefoil is only on the uniform itself.
Is the Cream Uniform New?
The color is not new, but the uniform is. Tennessee first wore a cream uniform with an orange "Vols" script against Texas in January 2023, as part of what the school called its "Tennessee Classic" look, with ties to Tennessee's 1936 uniforms. That version was made by Nike. It quickly became a big-game uniform: Tennessee wore it for all three games of its 2023 NCAA Tournament run and again in the first round of the 2024 tournament against Saint Peter's.
Tennessee switched from Nike to adidas this season, so this is the adidas build of the same idea.
What Changed From the Nike Version
Put the two side by side and the differences are all in the details:
- Swoosh to trefoil. The Nike swoosh on the right chest is now the adidas trefoil.
- Solid trim to double stripes. The Nike version had a single solid orange band around the collar and armholes and solid orange trim on the shorts. The adidas version uses two thinner orange stripes everywhere.
- The SEC logo moved. On the Nike version it was a small patch on the left chest. Now it sits at the point of the collar.
- A sponsor patch. The Axle Logistics patch is new this season and takes the left chest spot.
- Outlined script. The orange "Vols" script now has a thin white outline.
Is It a Trefoil or the adidas Performance Logo?
The trefoil. The jersey, shorts and socks all carry the three-leaf trefoil, and Tennessee's own reveal graphic pairs the trefoil with the Power T. That makes the cream uniform different from the white and orange adidas uniforms Tennessee revealed in July, which put an adidas logo at the center of the collar. On the cream uniform, the SEC logo takes the collar spot and the trefoil moves to the chest.
When Does Tennessee Wear the Cream Uniforms?
The team's post says the cream uniform debuts on 11.17. Tennessee's official schedule has the Vols hosting Michigan State on Tuesday, November 17, at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2 at Food City Center in Knoxville.
Some early reports had the debut on November 3 against Michigan State. Tennessee's season opener on November 3 is against Wofford, not Michigan State, and the team's own post says 11.17, so we are going with November 17.
Did the Lady Vols Get Cream adidas Uniforms?
Not in this reveal. The cream uniform was announced by the men's team account and shown only on men's players. The Lady Vols got three adidas uniforms in July: white with the Lady Vols script, orange with the Tennessee wordmark, and a Summitt Blue alternate with the Lady Vols script and new side striping. We could not find a Lady Vols cream uniform announcement as of October 30.
Our Take
This is the best uniform in Tennessee's basketball closet, and adidas made it better. The double stripes look like a real 1970s basketball uniform, where the Nike version's solid trim looked like a modern template. The trefoil is the right call too. It is a retro logo on a retro uniform, and it does not look like a sponsor mark the way a swoosh or three bars can. The one thing we would take off is the Axle patch, which crowds the chest on a uniform that works because it is simple. Grade: A-.
Every Tennessee football look this season, including the all-black Dark Mode uniform Tennessee will wear against Kentucky on November 7, is in our Tennessee 2026 uniform schedule.
The Bottom Line
Tennessee basketball's new cream adidas uniform has an orange "Vols" script, double orange stripes on the collar, arms and shorts, the SEC logo on the collar and the adidas trefoil on the chest. It replaces the Nike cream version Tennessee debuted in 2023. It debuts on Tuesday, November 17, against Michigan State at Food City Center. We will confirm it from the broadcast on game night.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Tennessee basketball wear the cream uniforms?
The cream adidas uniform debuts on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, when Tennessee hosts Michigan State at Food City Center at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. The team's reveal post says "debut 11.17."
Is the Tennessee cream jersey new?
The uniform is new, but the color is not. Tennessee first wore a cream uniform with an orange "Vols" script in January 2023 against Texas. That one was made by Nike. The 2026 version is made by adidas, with double-stripe trim and the adidas trefoil.
Does Tennessee's cream jersey have the adidas trefoil?
Yes. The jersey, shorts and socks all have the orange adidas trefoil, the retro three-leaf logo. Tennessee's other adidas basketball uniforms put an adidas logo at the center of the collar instead.
What changed on Tennessee's cream uniform from Nike to adidas?
The swoosh became the trefoil, the solid orange trim became double orange stripes, the SEC logo moved from the chest to the collar, the "Vols" script got a thin white outline and the Axle Logistics sponsor patch was added.
Who does Tennessee play when it debuts the cream uniforms?
Michigan State, on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at Food City Center in Knoxville.
Is Tennessee wearing cream in its season opener?
No. Tennessee opens against Wofford on Tuesday, November 3. The team says the cream uniform debuts on November 17 against Michigan State.
Did the Lady Vols get cream adidas uniforms?
Not in this reveal. The cream uniform was shown only for the men's team. The Lady Vols have white, orange and Summitt Blue adidas uniforms, all revealed in July 2026.
What is the patch on Tennessee's basketball jersey?
It is the Axle Logistics patch. Axle, a Knoxville logistics company, became the first jersey patch sponsor for Tennessee's men's and women's basketball teams in a five-year deal announced in August 2026.
When did Tennessee switch from Nike to adidas?
Tennessee's 10-year deal with adidas started July 1, 2026. Tennessee had been with Nike since the 2015-16 season.
Can you buy the Tennessee cream basketball jersey?
Tennessee has not announced retail details for the cream uniform yet.
