No Corny Spirit Tees: Gameday Merch That Actually Looks Good

For fraternities, gameday isn’t just another Saturday. It’s the college version of the Olympics. Each chapter is its own country, and the merch? That’s the uniform. The one people see on every school social media page, the girls’ TikToks, and any student vlogging their tailgating experience on YouTube.

The goal is simple: throw the best tailgate, rep your letters like it’s championship merch, and make sure your alumni aren’t embarrassed when they see the photos. This is why the right fraternity gameday merch matters: it should hype your house without making it look exactly like the generic uni merch from the school store.

What should fraternities avoid when designing gameday merch?

Great gameday merch means designs that don’t have the generic school mascot pic, generic slogans, or worse—10 different generic fonts. If it looks like something from a high school pep rally you were too sleepy to pay attention to, it doesn’t belong in your chapter’s tailgating merch drop.

Avoid these specific things when you’re designing your fraternity gameday merch:

• No mascot clipart. It’s tempting to slap your school’s eagle, tiger, or bulldog on your tee, pins, or cap. But, honestly, most of the time it just looks tacky, plus it makes your merch look like it was from the school store, not customized for your chapter. Skip saving that low-res JPG of your school mascot from the uni website, please.
• No corny slogans. “Go [Team]!” or “Beat [The Other Team]!” is not a design. Those belong on foam fingers, not on a shirt your members want to wear or even keep. Put the slogan on a flag or banner and stick to an actual design that doesn’t make your members cringe.
• No Comic Sans, Papyrus, or default fonts. Fonts can make or break a design. The wrong one makes it look like DIY’d shirts for Parents’ Weekend or, worse, your cousin’s elementary school shirt for Teacher’s Day. Hollywood has better fake high school merch than that.
• No copy-paste designs. If another chapter on campus could wear similar merch and no one would notice, it’s a fail. Fraternity gameday merch should feel house-specific, tied to your letters, your jokes, and your identity. Sure, you can use the same template, but you should definitely still make it your own by changing colors, parts of the design, and maybe even fonts.
• No boxy, low-quality bases. Nothing kills the hype faster than merch that shrinks, peels, or feels stiff. Bad bases or print methods that don’t work for the base will damage your design before the season is over, and that’s money down the drain. Your guys will wear these pieces to tailgates, class, and maybe even at the gym—make sure they actually lasts.

What makes fraternity gameday merch actually look good?

The best fraternity gameday merch looks good when it’s designed intentionally, looks super unique to your house, and wearable after the tailgate ends. That means strong design choices, quality bases, and an overall design that doesn’t need 15 different colors to grab attention from the bleachers.

To make sure your brothers actually like your merch, don’t forget these:

• Mascot parodies done right. We know we said don’t use your school mascot on your merch, but technically, you can still do it. If you really want to incorporate your mascot in some way, maybe look into other ways of illustrating the mascot in your design. For example, if your school’s mascot is a tiger, maybe you can use a more minimalist version of a tiger or even use tiger stripes on the letters. Get creative!
• Retro-inspired crewnecks. The Retro Crewneck and Varsity Crewneck are oversized, heavyweight, and aren’t the average finance bro crewneck from some obscure business expo. These pieces hit for gameday, but they also work with jeans or joggers the rest of the semester.
• Subtle chapter branding. Think less giant Greek letters across the chest and more streetwear vibe. It’s strong, punchy, but doesn’t look like an over-the-top high school pep rally design someone barfed on a jersey. Who cares if your frat can’t actually skate?
• Playful inside jokes. Every house has sayings, nicknames, or iconic one-liners. Incorporating those in smart ways—like a hat embroidered with a chapter in-joke—makes the merch feel exclusive and personal.
• The Image AI Tool. This is where you can level up. While using our Design Tool, you can pull up our built-in Image AI tool and type your design idea. If you put in “retro NASCAR font with our letters,” or “’90s vintage ad but with our mascot,” our Image AI will generate mockups you can then further refine. It takes the guesswork out of starting, and the end result actually feels unique to your fraternity gameday merch.

What gameday merch work best for fraternities?

The best gameday pieces for fraternities are pocket tees, jerseys, polos, crewnecks, and caps because they work for both tailgates and everyday wear. These staples give you merch that lasts beyond gameday, instead of getting stuffed in the back of a drawer.

Here are our top picks, straight from our Product Gallery:

Pocket Tees

The Comfort Colors RS Pocket Tee is the backbone of any frat merch, even ones for tailgating. Literally every frat loves a good frocket, and we can see why. Heavyweight cotton, a perfect relaxed drape, and a pocket that gives it a little extra vibe. Easy to print big designs on the back, subtle embroidery on the pocket, and you can wear it to tailgating and your 9AM class under a good zip-up jacket or over a thin sweater.

Signature Crewnecks

The Fresh Prints Exclusive Retro Crewneck and Varsity Crewneck are oversized, comfy, and designed to last. On gameday, they can be worn as is or layered over jerseys or polos, or worn as is with a comfy tank underneath. Off gameday, they’re staples for classes, library grinds, and just feeling comfy when the weather gets colder. Why not wear it for Thanksgiving dinner while your dad wears his own classic crewneck to match?

Jerseys and Polos

The Augusta Stadium Replica Football Jersey brings gameday energy. It’s breathable enough for a September tailgate but roomy enough to throw over a hoodie in November before heading to the gym for a workout. If you’re into polos, the Gildan Jersey Polo is low-maintenance but sharp. Easy to embroider with letters or a crest, plus it can still work for chapter meetings or casual alumni lunches with its business-at-the-front-party-at-the-back vibe.

Another option for jerseys is the A4 V-Neck Muscle Shirt. This eye-catching piece belongs at every tailgate and is also perfect for the after-school gym sesh. Lightweight polyester, great for vinyl prints, and perfect for the brother who insists on going sleeveless even in October.

Caps

The Otto Trucker Hat is our bestseller, and frats love it because it just pulls the entire fit all together. Embroider it with your letters, a parody logo, or even just an inside joke—caps are low-cost, high-impact, and guaranteed to be worn outside of gameday. Plus, it doesn't pick a season; you can wear it when the weather is cold on the way to class, or with your summer fit while on a vacation with your family.

Ready to build your gameday drop?

Gameday is where reputations are made, and the right fraternity gameday merch shows that your house has taste. Skip the corny tees and build a collection your brothers will actually wear and your alumni will remember with our Design Tool. And if you’re stumped for game-winning designs, our Image AI will come up with a design for you based on what elements and vibe you need.