The rumors are true. No. 5 LSU will play No. 22 Mississippi State on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Like Nebraska, LSU will wear special uniforms to honor its lost heroes of World War I. The outbreak of the Great War caused LSU to cancel its entire 1918 campaign, henceforth known as the "Silent Season." This season marks the 100-year anniversary of the Silent Season, and LSU will mark the anniversary with a new set of uniforms, each with their own historical significance. The helmet, purple on first glance, morphs to gold under direct light: Reminiscent of French armor and as a nod to Louisiana’s heritage, the helmet is the crowning jewel. Like an iridescent Mardi Gras bead, its color will shift from purple to gold under the bright lights of Tiger Stadium.
The purple number font harkens back to a popular style in the early 20th century and will be adorned with oak leaf patterns on the numbers, pant and collar, honoring the Memorial Oak Grove on campus, which exists to honor the LSU students lost to the war.
The back of each helmet will don the number 18 and hold an American flag decal specially made with 48 states, accurate to the United States's makeup in 1918.
