Nike launches Georgia x Outkast collection, features Bulldogs athletes in campaign launch

Monday morning, Nike launched a Georgia x Outkast collaboration with a new apparel collection. The company also called on some Bulldogs football players to help with its launch through NIL deals.Safety KJ Bolden, cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, linebacker Chris Cole, wide receiver Talyn Taylor and tight ends Kaiden Prothro and Elyiss Williams took part in the shoot, which Nike said took place in Athens over the summer.$19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverageThe collection’s launch comes ahead of this week’s rivalry game between Georgia and Florida. It will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as part of a two-year absence from Raymond James Stadium in Jacksonville. Outkast, of course, formed in Atlanta.College apparel brand Class Trip worked with Nike to build the collection. It is inspired by Andre 3000 and Big Boi, and the logo features the Georgia G with the Outkast crown. There’s also a script that says “University of Georgia, Outkast 1996,” referencing the year ATLiens released.SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter“This started over lunch with André,” Class Trip founder Brian Francissaid in a statement announcing the collection’s launch. “He was telling stories about driving up to Athens to watch the Dawgs.“Then we saw Georgia vs. Florida was headed to Atlanta for the first time ever. Georgia’s football and its music, together in the city that made Outkast. They put Atlanta on the map. This is our thank you.”All six of the Georgia athletes who took part in the shoot are part of Nike’s NIL roster. They signed deals in June with the apparel giant, which continues to venture farther into the NIL space and has partnerships in place with a number of college football players.The Outkast U collection will launch Tuesday at SNKRS, Class Trip and in select Nike partners in Atlanta, the brand said. Then, the full collection will debut Wednesday online and at retail locations. There will also be a pop-up at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday before Georgia takes on Florida.“We wanted to create something as timeless as their music,” Class Trip creative director Jon Tietz said in a statement. “Think of the ‘Roses’ video. André and Big Boi, two crews, two completely different styles, same school. The yin and the yang. Every piece had to feel like it walked right out of that hallway.”