Boise State Week, Vol. 1: The jersey matchup is set ...

Let’s go ahead and call this the worst-kept secret ever: Virginia Tech will wear all-black uniforms, a special new design from Nike, in its opener against Boise State next Monday night.

Not only did numerous photographs of promotional posters for these new Nike Pro Combat uniforms leak out across the Internet in the past few days (not to mention a quickly removed Twitter picture of Hokies linebacker Bruce Taylor WEARING the black jersey), but sporting goods stores in Blacksburg already had replicas of the uniforms on the racks.

If you’ve been living under a rock, the Hokies’ gear looks like THIS. Boise State is another of the 10 teams Nike designed these futuristic get-ups for, and the Broncos’ gear apparently looks like THIS.

And even before Nike has its big, official unveiling today (Wednesday, but it’s after midnight as I type) in New York, we already know that both Tech and Boise will wear their new uniforms against each other in the opener. Why? Because in keeping with the theme of terribly kept secrets ... the University of Miami’s official website apparently jumped the gun on Tuesday and posted a Nike press release dated for Wednesday.

The release began: Today, Nike unveiled high-performance Nike Pro Combat uniforms in new designs for 10 elite college programs ...

It went on to say this:

The participating schools all rank in the preseason top 25. The teams plan to wear the uniquely designed uniforms for the games listed below and any other games they may determine at a later date: the University of Alabama (Nov. 13), Boise State University (Sept. 6), University of Florida (Oct. 30), University of Miami (Nov. 20), The Ohio State University (Nov. 27), Oregon State University (Dec. 4), University of Pittsburgh (Nov. 26), TCU (Sept. 4), Virginia Tech (Sept. 6) and West Virginia University (Nov. 26).

And then we got a little description on some of the key design details of the new jerseys for all 10 schools. Funny, I made a joke earlier in the week that the old-school fans who hate the idea of black uniforms should remember VT’s original colors (in the 1800s) were black and gray. And guess how Nike explained the all-black choice?

The key question here is if Tech’s wearing all-black and Boise is wearing gray tops with blue pants ... how’s that going to look on Monday night? Nevermind potentially hideous; that might be a tad confusing. Especially if you’re really, really old-school and watching on a black and white TV.

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the rundown from the Early Edition press release ...

• Miami: Tonal Fir palm-frond print emblematic of South Florida incorporated into the jersey numbers, pant and footwear.

• Alabama: Houndstooth check pattern incorporated into the uniform in tribute to legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

• Boise State: Reflective, Game Royal Bronco head on the uniform echoes the famed blue turf of Bronco stadium.

• Florida: Alligator-skin motif used in the jersey numbers, pant, gloves and footwear inspired by menacing Gator mascot.

• Ohio State: Stylized script numbers, a replica U.S. flag on the jersey sleeve and the camouflage-print base layer honor the WWII-bound Buckeyes, National Champions of 1942.

• Oregon State: Retro design revives a look worn by the victorious 1967 "Giant Killers."

• Pittsburgh: Notched Team Gold jersey numbers and stencil stripe on the helmet evoke steel I-beams in reference to Pittsburgh's steel industry.

• TCU: Icy lizard-skin pattern used throughout the uniform inspired by the scaly body armor of TCU's horned frog mascot and a memorable quote from celebrated coach Leo "Dutch" Meyer.

• Virginia Tech: All-black uniform references the cadet gray-and-black regalia worn by Virginia Tech's original football team and honors the school's current Corps of Cadets.

• West Virginia: A headlamp-like line running front-to-back on the helmet and smudged Black pattern on the uniform pay respect to the region's coal mining industry.

* For instant updates on the Hokies, follow me at twitter.com/kyletuckerVP

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