Boston College Unveils 2026 Red Bandanna Uniforms Honoring Welles Crowther
Boston College is once again turning one of college football’s most meaningful uniform traditions into a powerful tribute.
For the 2026 Red Bandanna Game, the Eagles will take the field in a special-edition uniform honoring Welles Crowther, the former Boston College lacrosse player who sacrificed his life while helping others escape the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This year’s game carries even more significance as it falls on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
The centerpiece of the new look is a predominantly white uniform accented by an unmistakable red bandanna pattern.
The pattern covers the jersey sleeves and appears throughout the accessories, creating a visual connection to the red handkerchief Crowther famously wore while helping guide people to safety inside the World Trade Center. The helmet features a metallic gold shell with a bold red bandanna-inspired stripe running down the center, giving the Eagles one of their most distinctive helmet designs of the season.
The jerseys also feature traditional Boston College branding alongside the “For Welles” elements associated with the program's ongoing tribute to Crowther.
The design extends beyond the jersey, with matching red bandanna gloves and other details completing the look.
Boston College's Red Bandanna Game has become one of the defining traditions in Eagles athletics. The first Red Bandanna uniform game was held in 2014, when Boston College wore the special uniforms against No. 9 USC and pulled off a 37-31 upset.
Since then, the uniforms have become an annual visual representation of Crowther's legacy and Boston College's commitment to the school's “men and women for others” philosophy.
Crowther, a 1999 Boston College graduate, was working as an equities trader in the South Tower on September 11, 2001. Trained as a volunteer firefighter, he repeatedly entered the building to help others reach safety and was credited with saving as many as 18 people before the tower collapsed.
This year's matchup will be especially significant. Boston College will host Rutgers on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Alumni Stadium, the exact 25th anniversary of the attacks. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2.
The 2026 uniform combines one of college football's most recognizable visual motifs with a story that goes far beyond the sport. For Welles.
SHOP Boston College gear HERE
See What Else Is New
Featured
Related Articles
Featured
