When a football recruit arrives on an official visit at Colorado State, he’s given a choice of jersey to try on with four options to visualize joining the Rams. Green and white, of course, and two alternates worn for special occasions. Head coach Mike Bobo can tell you what roughly 90 percent of those 18-year-olds choose: Orange or gray.

“What does every kid want to be?” Bobo said. “They want to be different.”

CSU (2-2) plays at 10 p.m. Saturday at Hawaii (2-2), but the national buzz surrounding the program following its bye week has been fashion forward. The Rams unveiled an all-white Under Armour “State Pride” uniform combination, which will be worn Nov. 11 against Boise State, that feature blue-and-yellow Colorado state flag “C” logos, blue numbers outlined in red, plus “COLORADO STATE” across the chest.

Nowhere on the helmet, jersey or pants is a flicker of green or gold.

It all highlights a national trend that’s hit even the most tradition-rich programs such as Oklahoma, Penn State and Notre Dame: Bigger and bolder is better when it comes to trendsetting college football uniform combinations.

“There is something a little weird when you see Colorado State out there in colors that are not the school colors,” said ESPN columnist Paul Lukas, who maintains the blog uni-watch.com that specializes in the analysis of sports uniforms. “That said, it’s an effective design and it draws upon a striking state-specific set of visual imagery.”

The development of the “State Pride” look began in spring of 2016, said Under Armour design director for team sports apparel Nick Billiris, and was developed through a series of communication between the company and CSU’s athletic department to coincide with the inaugural season of the on-campus football stadium.

It’s not the first time sports teams have paid homage to their respective state flags. Under Armour designed similar college football concepts previously worn by Texas Tech and Maryland. The NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets have an Ohio state flag themed alternative jersey. The MLB’s Texas Rangers often wear a sleeve patch representing the Lone Star State.

If the Rams earn a victory in their new “State Pride” duds, or the look becomes a welcome brand synonymous with CSU, it might return for future seasons, too.

CSU signed a five-year contract with Under Armour in 2016 that states it can produce three “special uniforms” for three games through the 2020-21 season — with production costs split between the two parties — meaning fans can look forward to up to two more unique looks across the next three-plus seasons. According to the school, it will be provided with apparel and equipment valued at $2.2 million retail this year; however, CSU and Under Armour declined to release the full details of their agreement, redacting financial information from the contract, citing “confidential and proprietary” information.

In Boulder, an analysis of the University of Colorado’s agreement with Nike shows the school will receive $750,000 in base compensation in 2017-18 budgeted as operating revenue for the overall athletic department budget — meaning the company is paying the Buffs to wear the “Swoosh” logo — plus apparel and equipment valued at $2.1 million retail. Should the Buffaloes reach the College Football Playoff, they receive a $25,000 bonus. And if CU wins the national title, it takes in $100,000.

CU’s contract with Nike was first signed in 2001, received a 10-year extension in 2006 and was again extended last year through 2025. The most recent extension garnered the Buffs’ $2 million signing bonus. CU coach Mike MacIntyre earns $3,500 annually as part of the agreement, a university spokesman said.

CSU receives undisclosed bonuses for athletic achievements by its football and men’s and women’s basketball teams.

In addition to lucrative contracts, alternative uniforms provide increased revenue through merchandising. CSU paired its uniform release with the introduction of “State Pride” clothing in its online store with the same flag-inspired design scheme, and it sold out after about just four hours, said Chris Ferris, senior associate athletic director for sales, marketing and communications.

Players at each in-state Football Bowl Subdivision program have donned striking alternative uniform combinations recently. Air Force will wear helmets this fall modeled after an F-35 fighter jet pilot’s helmet, with one side featuring the Air Force logo and the other with one of five decals representing a different squadron. At UCLA on Saturday night, CU will wear black from head to toe. And of course, CSU is just six weeks away from suiting up all-white in Fort Collins.

The different looks help illustrate a lifetime of memories. Bobo recalls being a senior University of Georgia quarterback in 1997, and when the Bulldogs faced Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, UGA rolled onto the field wearing black pants.

“We thought that was the coolest thing in the world, because all we ever wore was silver britches,” Bobo said. “We got to wear black pants in the bowl game, and I’ve still got them at my house. We weren’t supposed to keep them.

“But I kept them.”

COLORADO FOOTBALL UNIFORM TIMELINE

1921: CU wore leather helmets and gold uniforms with black numbers at home, and white uniforms with black numbers on the road.

1959: CU wears black jerseys for the first time under head coach Sonny Grandelius.

1969: The interlocking CU logo first appears on players’ gold helmets.

1981: Blue becomes the primary jersey color with silver numbers.

1985: CU returns to black and gold as its primary jersey colors.

2015: Nike unveils four new uniforms combinations: black, white and gray jerseys; gold, black, silver and white pants; and gold, black, silver and white helmets.

COLORADO STATE FOOTBALL UNIFORM TIMELINE

1922: CSU wore leather helmets, green uniforms with leather-patched numbers.

1929: The first uniforms to feature yellow/gold are worn.

1940: The team debuts its “orange-clad Aggies” uniform, now honored with modern throwback jerseys.

1951: Rams horns first appear on CSU’s helmets.

1993: Metallic gold replaces yellow on the Rams’ uniforms.

2013: Under Armour becomes CSU’s uniform sponsor, replacing Russell.

2017: CSU unveils its “State Pride” alternate uniforms, all-white with Colorado Flag symbols, that do not feature the color green.

* Information provided by CU Athletics and coloradoaggies.com