Nike's 'Yardrunners' Collection Celebrates HBCUs with Their Own Air Max 95

Nike's Yardrunners initiative is currently in its fifth year. What began as a niche celebration of some of the country's Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) by Arinze Emeagwali and Richard Palmer has turned into an annual initiative that delivers product launches and community events. For its latest iteration, the program sees important institutions receive their own Air Max 95.

Morehouse College, Spelman College, Florida A&M University (FAMU), and Norfolk State University lead the charge for this year's Yardrunners Collection. Each educational facility's colors take over the 30-year-old footwear design, animating profile overlays and Big Bubble Air Max units underfoot. Founding years for the HBCUs are found on the tongue while each school's branding replaces classic airmax text on the tongue patch. Insoles join the mix by featuring logos for respective athletics programs.

Lastly, relevant textures and patterns (e.g. faux snakeskin for the FAMU Rattlers) appear on sidewalls, with slogans and student anthems appearing on some pairs.

Enjoy official photos of the newly-surfaced quartet ahead. Expect the next Yardrunners Collection to release via Nike.com between Saturday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 1, to coincide with most HBCUs' homecoming U.S. football games.

For more footwear news from the Swoosh conglomerate, check out House of Heat°'s dedicated Jordan Release Dates Calendar.