Some leotards just feel like they belong to the wrong team. In this fun and slightly chaotic roundtable, CGN editors reassign leos based on vibes, aesthetics, and personality—because sometimes a leo screams UCLA even if it was worn by Florida.
Want to browse more leos? Check out our extensive Leotard Database to see every leotard a team has worn over the years.
What leo gave major [insert school] energy—even though it wasn’t theirs?
Peri: Fisk’s woman king leo from this past season screams Pitt, from the bold yellow to the varying materials and patterns giving depth to the blue.
Sara: The Elastigirl leo from N.C. State screams school spirit and is similar to the Northern Illinois Royal Drip from 2024 with the use of the mascot.
Katherine: LSU’s and Washington’s colors are similar, so some overlap is to be expected, but I thought this design from the Huskies this year felt especially reminiscent of the Sarah Finnegan/Lexie Priessman era of LSU in particular.
Julianna: George Washington’s Dare to Bloom cherry blossom leotard debuted this past season gives me major Cal vibes. Cal is one of the teams that always incorporates intricate floral designs into its leotards over the past few seasons and this one could definitely fit into its wardrobe.
Diana: If shown Clemson’s Purple Reign without context, I would assume it’s an LSU leotard. Besides the color, the pattern of the straps and high collar remind me of LSU’s Ice Queen and Shero, the latter of which was inspired by their Wonder Woman from a few seasons earlier.
Which team’s aesthetic would benefit from borrowing another team’s style?
Peri: Sacramento State’s got plenty of ideas, and a gorgeous deep green to work with. Give them Michigan State’s designers and a blank check, then watch the Hornets dominate the leo rankings.
Sara: Central Michigan’s leos are really pretty but they could use designs from Minnesota. The Gophers seem to do really well with their leotards and the colors of Maroon and Gold between teams can help elevate the look and style on the competition floor.
Katherine: I would love for one iconic program to take a page from another’s book. Utah and Georgia have similar colors and leo budgets, but Utah seems to always come out on top in terms of originality and eye-catching designs. These black and red designs from the Utes could be great inspiration for the GymDogs.
Julianna: Michigan has had some beautiful, but really complex leotards in the last two seasons. I do love its most recent designs from 2025, but I would have to second giving Michigan State a crack at designing. Michigan State also has more complex leotard designs with a lot of layered elements, but always seems to find a great balance.
Diana: Florida. Their designs often seem generic and plain coming from one of the top programs in the nation. I’d like to see them mix it up some more and try trends like florals or vintage athletic. I also wish they would use orange more and not just as an accent color. What team does this sound like? Oregon State, who takes chances with their designs and works with orange as a primary color.
What’s a leo design that deserves a second life with a new team?
Peri: Auburn’s Tiger Leo was debuted (and worn last) before Clemson announced their program. That’s as ‘second life’ as it gets for me – both in that it’s for a new team, and in that it’s a chance at redemption for their polarizing full body tiger stripe leo won for their competitive debut.
Sara: Cortland’s Sharkbite leo from the 2018 NCGA Championships was one that was worn by Rutgers back in 2009. While it’s not exactly new, it still fits the Red Dragons well and brings life back into a leotard from long ago.
Katherine: I’m going to reference my favorite college gymnastics leo ever, Get Your Jersey On from Rutgers. First of all, the fact that we haven’t seen this design since 2022 isn’t terribly surprising (Rutgers churns out new leos at an insane rate) but criminal nonetheless. Second, other teams should take on the state outline trend in a design. We see certain teams lean into it in branding (I’m thinking specifically of Arkansas, Missouri, and West Virginia, but there are others); let’s get it in some designs!
Julianna: Texas Woman’s debuted a gorgeous maroon ombre leotard (the Icebreaker Leotard) this season that I don’t think got enough love for how stunning it is! If this leotard had more “TV time,” perhaps in Oklahoma’s wardrobe since the two have similar color schemes, it would be turning a lot of heads!
Diana: Although they’re still using it occasionally, I love this Oklahoma leotard for its combo of sporty and sparkly, and I’d be happy to see it tweaked for any team.
Which program would you give a full leo rebrand, and what would it look like?
Sara: I would go with Oklahoma. The Sooners seem to always enter a new season with the same crimson color (like this one) and small modified designs on all of their leotards. It becomes boring to the eye and seems a bit odd that the team has not used cream more often in leos every year. For me, I would make the leotards with both school colors, add black as well to make them pop, and focus on designs that fit the school. It also wouldn’t hurt to incorporate the mascot and other school history.
Katherine: I would give the Iowa Hawkeyes a full leo rebrand. 2024’s yellow design was refreshing, but other than that, almost all of their designs are either all black or white body/black bottom, with some splashes of nude mesh in there. Let’s shake it up, starting with more yellow!
Julianna: I have liked a handful of Arkansas’ over the years, but I think with some sort of a rebrand, they could outdo themselves. A lot of the leotards for the Razorbacks seem to blend together, which is a shame because they have beautiful design elements. They need more of unique touch to make the leos more distinguishable meet to meet.
Diana: Denver. Their overall wardrobe feels dark and unmemorable, and they wear a ton of solid black. I’d love to see them liven things up by incorporating the colorful Colorado or Denver flags somehow, perhaps similar to what Arizona and Maryland have done. They could also feature the city’s beautiful scenery, similar to this Utah effort.
What color scheme feels underused by the team it would suit best?
Peri: I’ve been quietly cheering on the resurgence of matte gray leotards, and waiting for Ohio State to lean into it to match the university’s other teams. I’m taking this year’s Flower Power leo as a good sign of more gray to come.
Sara: This postseason leo worn by Washington incorporates different color schemes using pink flowers and a dark purple shade across the whole leotard. I hope that other teams choose to go with the design or something similar in the future.
Katherine: Michigan should draw inspiration from in-state rival Michigan State and incorporate lighter versions of its maize and blue colors (think this Spartan design) into its designs. The Wolverines tried something like it last season, but I’d like to see it more, and with a lighter yellow too, maybe in the style of this Brazil leo over in the elite world.
Julianna: Florida is one I would love to see utilizing its color scheme more. We rarely get any of the orange elements or different shades of blue in these leotards, and even though I am a fan of their designs, I would love to see more from the Gators in this aspect.
Are there any “neutral” leos you’d assign a new identity to?
Peri: Oregon State’s Suited Up has potential in so many color schemes, it’d be a shame if we don’t see it from any other teams.
Sara: UCLA’s UCLV leotard is a great one. I could see other teams using the leo just with the respective colors.
Katherine: Michigan State’s Illustrious could be a hit for a lot of teams, being a neutral gray color. Just replace the Spartan logo on the back with, say, a script UCLA or Cal (both of whom have done all gray designs), and boom.
Julianna: LSU’s Halo leo with its white base and royal purple embellishments could be altered to be a staple for any team. The actual foundational design is beautiful and just the slight pop of color would be great for teams with one really distinct color (perhaps the Carolina blue for the Tar Heels or the crimson red for Alabama) .
Diana: Cal’s Pride Leo. Is that neutral? I think it’d be rad to have, say, a quad meet where all the teams have the design with the rainbow accents and their colors.
Which team would you love to see take a risk with a more fashion-forward leo?
Peri: Risk, not necessarily. Trust, absolutely. Temple hasn’t had a miss in years and continues to find ways to surprise me with cherry and white. The Owls are my top pick for a team I’d trust to break a rule here and there in the pursuit of the next hit leo.
Sara: Clemson seems like the best school for this one. Since the Tigers’ colors are orange and purple, the combination is unlike many other college colors or spirit. With the Howells now at the helm, they could help put together fashionable leotards that will be a bold statement for a long time.
Katherine: For as fun as a team as the N.C. State Wolfpack is, I feel that its leos tend to play it safe. This 2024 design feels like its most innovative in recent years; I’d love to see more unique designs like it.
Julianna: I would have to push the Florida and Arkansas answer again, but I would have to also add in Oregon State. These leotards definitely have potential, but the last time I feel like the Beavers really took a risk was with Retro Benny (one of my absolute favorites) and I would love to see OSU dip into more of this creativity in the future!
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
