Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell attracted plenty of attention with the shorts he rocked while doing his thing for the Sooners last year. However, they could become a thing of the past after the discourse he sparked seemingly led to the NCAA turning its attention to a rule that should have barred him from wearing them in the first place.
The NCAA is just one of many athletic organizations that has a pretty exhaustive list of rules concerning the equipment players wear during a game, as uniforms tend to be subject to some pretty strict requirements.
However, players do have some leeway when it comes to making sure they’re as comfortable as they can be when they compete. Many college basketball players have a preference when it comes to the length of their shorts, and while the vast majority of football players rock pants on the field, there was one guy who found himself thrust into the spotlight after going against the grain.
Last season, Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell managed to cause a bit of a stir with the so-called “short shorts” (that were really just shorts) he wore while making 24 of the 27 field goals he attempted for the Sooners.
That look was greeted by some mixed reviews, but he may be barred from rocking it next season courtesy of the NCAA.
The NCAA is preparing to crack down on football players who wear shorts
Article 4 of the NCAA football rulebook covers the “Mandatory Equipment” that must be worn during a game, and Section D states “the pants and knee pads must cover the knees.” That regulation was introduced around a decade ago, but it has not been a top priority for officials who tend to have some more pressing matters to attend to.
According to The Athletic, that status quo is set to change ahead of the 2026 college football season.
Sandell, who says his signature look was the result of a wardrobe malfunction, may not have been solely responsible for a new point of emphasis that has surfaced ahead of a rules committee meeting that will take place at the NFL Combine this week, but it sure sounds like he was a factor in a pending war on shorts.
The outlet spoke to insiders who explained why shorts have managed to attract some scrutiny, saying “officials don’t believe inconsistently short pants look good in a team sport” and that the lack of the padding that’s found on pants makes them a “safety issue.”
It’s not entirely clear how the NCAA plans to enforce the rule, but it appears players will initially be given a warning before their team is assessed a delay of game penalty if it’s not heeded.
We’ll have to wait and see if Sandell will be taking his talents to the NFL when his time at Oklahoma comes to an end, but he’ll have to switch things up if he does, as the league’s competition committee reaffirmed its ban on shorts during a meeting of its own.
One thing the competition committee talked about today: uniforms. As in, those cut off football pants you saw in college are definitely not coming to the NFL.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 22, 2026
It was fun while it lasted.