Week Zero 2024: Introducing the Nike Air Max Solo “Texas”

As has been the case in previous years, images of one of the 2024 Texas shoes have leaked online well ahead of their projected release date. This year, Nike has tapped the recently released Air Max Solo as the latest sneaker to receive the burnt orange and white treatment. Following up on the success of last year’s UT Air Max SYSTMs, this marks the second year in a row that a retro-inspired Air Max will be released in a Longhorn colorway.

Colorway Description

These Air Max Solos feature all of the major colors that we typically see on Longhorn kicks. The shoes sport a white upper that is covered with a mix of burnt orange, black, and grey accents. While this combination of colors seems to drown out the bits burnt orange, UT’s signature hue shines through enough to give the sneakers a distinctly Texas appearance.

School branding is the standard affair that we’ve come to expect from UT kicks over the last few years. A white font “TEXAS” set against a burnt orange patch can be found on the tongue of each sneaker. Additionally, the Longhorn logo is imprinted on the insole of each shoe near the heel. While the branding is certainly minimal compared to many of the early “Week Zero” shoes that Nike released in the mid-2010s, it does the job just fine and cements their affiliation with UT.

Despite being a new silhouette , these kicks have a vintage styling that draws on popular Air Max models from the past (such as the Nike Air Max 90). Despite being made by Nike, the color blocking and leather paneling remind me of the New Balance 327 (particularly the “Rust Oxide” colorway). Overall, this shoe will likely be a big hit amongst Texas fans that are looking for a casual, retro-like style.

A Successor to the SYSTM

These Air Max Solos are a clear follow-up to one of last year’s collegiate shoes; the Nike Air Max SYSTM. The two models occupy a similar position in the larger Nike product hierarchy, as both are retro-inspired Air Maxes that retail for $100. Both the Solo and the SYSTM are budget offerings that serve as the entry point to the greater Air Max brand, which includes popular offerings such as the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, and Air Max 97.

Additionally, the schools included in both releases are largely the same. All ten of the universities that received a colorway of the SYSTMs will also get a colorway in the Solos. The programs in this group are mainly comprised of Nike’s “elite” sponsored programs, as the Swoosh likely felt that these were schools that could support multiple sneaker releases in the same year (each of these schools also received a special colorway of the Pegasus 40s last year as well).

While I was not a huge fan of the UT Air Max SYSTMs when they released, it’s undeniable that the shoes sold well and were well-received by the public. They currently resell for well above their original MSRP on the secondary marketplace, which is typically a good indicator of a sneaker’s popularity. Given the SYSTM’s success, it makes sense that Nike would look to follow them up with a similarly priced and positioned product.

Author Opinion: A Missed Opportunity

I think my biggest issue with these Texas Air Max Solos is not the shoe itself, but the thought of what could have been. While the Solos are a decent sneaker, I would have preferred Nike to produce a Longhorn colorway in a more iconic silhouette. This was a concern that I previously levied against the Air Max SYSTMs, and many of my thoughts from last year remain the same.

For context, one of the main complaints that I often read from Longhorn fans is their desire for UT to be sponsored by Jordan Brand. This is mainly driven by the appeal of seeing Longhorn colorways of retro Air Jordans, in a similar vein to other Jumpman-sponsored schools such as Florida and Michigan. While I think it’s unlikely that Texas ever becomes a Jordan school, this situation showcases the fanbase’s desire for UT colorways in popular sneaker models.

Although Nike might not have any silhouettes on the same level as an Air Jordan 3 or 11, the brand still boasts an extremely strong catalog of iconic models. Classic Air Maxes, Dunks, and Air Trainers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to well-loved Nike sneakers, and any one of these would make an excellent candidate for a potential Texas (and other colleges) colorway.

The Swoosh is perfectly capable of producing a Texas/college colorway in a popular silhouette, and in fact has done so in the past. This is primarily a matter of “if”, not “can”, and I would challenge the Nike College Sports team to push envelope in this sector. While the Longhorn colorway of the Air Max Solo is a solid shoe and will no doubt sell well, is it too much to ask the largest athletic apparel brand in the world to do more?

Release Info

There is currently no official release date set for these sneakers, although I expect we’ll see them drop around mid-August of this year. Price will almost certainly be $110, which is a $10 upcharge from the standard colorways of the base model that previous Texas shoes have incurred.

What are your thoughts on these UT Air Max Solos? Will you be grabbing a pair when they inevitably drop, or be waiting to see if another Texas Longhorns shoe releases this year (such as a new UT Pegasus 41).

Images via @US_11