Nike expands their partnership with Oklahoma, releasing crimson and cream Vomero 18 running shoes
Nike just dropped a fresh set of college football-themed running shoes to kick off the new season, and the Oklahoma Sooners got their own version of the Vomero 18.
The shoes officially launched today, August 1, 2026, as part of Nike’s big Fall 2026 NCAA collection. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual Pegasus models we’ve seen year after year.
The Oklahoma version is pure crimson and cream energy. The upper is a bold red with sharp white accents, including a clean white heel design and a solid white foam sole. The classic Sooners logo sits on both sides of the shoe, so there’s no mistaking who you’re repping when you lace them up. It looks sharp and has that true team spirit feel without going overboard.
This isn’t just a regular running shoe with a logo slapped on it. The Vomero 18 is Nike’s top-tier maximum-cushion road trainer, and they completely overhauled it for this version. The midsole stacks ultra-lightweight ZoomX foam on top of responsive ReactX foam, giving what they call an “anti-gravity” feel. It’s supposedly 18% softer than the previous Vomero 17.
The stack height is massive — 46mm in the heel and 36mm in the forefoot — with a standard 10mm drop. The upper uses a flexible, breathable engineered mesh, and there’s more of a rocker shape to make the heel-to-toe transition smoother.
In short, these are built for long runs and recovery days when your legs need the extra cushioning.
One interesting note for Sooner fans: Oklahoma is primarily a Jordan Brand school for football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. That partnership started in 2017 when OU moved into the elite Jordan Brand tier.
Before that, the modern Nike relationship really solidified back in 2003, even though the Sooners wore Nike gear in the 1990s.
Programs like softball and baseball still rock the traditional Nike Swoosh. This Vomero 18 is a Nike brand shoe, not a Jordan one, so it’s a little different from the on-field gear you’ll see on Saturdays. Still cool to have the option for training and everyday wear.
Whether you’re a runner looking for a plush daily trainer or just want a pair of crimson kicks to wear around Norman, these should check a lot of boxes. The red-and-white colorway is clean, the cushioning sounds top-notch, and the Sooners branding is front and center.
With training camp right around the corner and a new season about to kick off, the timing of this release feels perfect. Nike keeps finding ways to keep the college football vibe going year-round, and the Oklahoma Vomero 18 is a solid addition to that lineup.
If you’re in the market for some new running shoes with a little Sooner pride, this is one worth checking out!
