TLDR: The LSU Tigers have rolled out an eye-catching set of gold jerseys for their upcoming clash with Vanderbilt, which will be aired at 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time on SEC Network this Saturday. These new jerseys keep the classic elements of LSU’s home white and purple alternate styles, adorned with the familiar UCLA stripes on the shoulders, contrasting sleeve cuffs, and an SEC logo resting at the collar base. What sets them apart are the purple numbers, which are highlighted with a white outline for that extra pop. Historically, this game marks only the fifth ordeal with gold jerseys for LSU, adding a layer of history and intrigue. Speculation remains over the color choice for helmets and pants to accompany the gold, given their diversified pairing through past occasions since their first outing in 1996. All of this unfolds against backdrop of LSU’s nuanced uniform traditions, rooted in their national championship glory days under Coach Paul Dietzel, a man of strong aesthetic convictions. Under Dietzel, the Tigers wore primarily white at home until NCAA regulations changed, necessitating dark jerseys until Coach Gerry DiNardo petitioned the change back in 1995. Interestingly, Vanderbilt, DiNardo’s former team, was the first house conference team to deny them a white jersey appearance at home back in 1996, prompting LSU’s initial gold debut.

Monday evening saw the LSU Tigers reveal somethin’ new in their wardrobe—a set of flashy gold jerseys set to make their grand debut against Vanderbilt this Saturday night. That game kicks off at 7:45 p.m. ET, broadcast on the SEC Network. These new garments keep up the spirit of their standard home white and alternate purple jerseys, featuring the recognizable UCLA stripes adorning the shoulders, a sturdy SEC logo settled at the base of the collar, and eye-catching contrasting sleeve cuffs. Notably, these gold jerseys stand out due to the purple numbers that are crisply stroked with white.

A quick glance back at history tells us this game will be only the fifth instance you’ll catch LSU donning these gold jerseys. Their saga with the gold began with a 35-0 victory over the Commodores back in 1996. They bagged a win over Notre Dame at the 1997 Independence Bowl and slumped to a defeat with the Gators of Florida in 1998 but made a victorious return to gold in 2016, edging out Mississippi State 23-20. What we don’t know for sure just yet is which color helmets and pants they’ll pair with the jerseys, yet past trends saw them in gold helmets coupled with white pants back in 1996 and 1998, while white helmets with white pants were their battle gear in ’97 and ’16.

Ever since the days of Coach Paul Dietzel back in ‘58, LSU’s had a flair for sticking to white jerseys at home, which brought ‘em their first national championship after a Sugar Bowl win over Clemson that same year. Dietzel had an eye for continuity, and some might say superstition too, maintainin’ those whites long after leavin’ for another gig. The traditions tried shufflin’ a bit when the NCAA switched things up in the ’80s, stipulating dark jerseys at home. Those years between 1983 to 1994 had the Tigers adopting purple, but come 1995 Coach Gerry DiNardo artfully wrangled a rule alteration, letting teams petition for white at home.

But, lovely ol’ Vanderbilt threw a wrench in their plans in ‘96, denyin’ LSU their white jersey request. As fate would have it, DiNardo formerly coached Vanderbilt up till ‘94, before his move down to Baton Rouge. Their refusal led LSU to defend home turf in that golden armor for its initial appearance, marking a peculiar little chapter in the Tigers’ storied uniform chronicles.