We’ve Got School Spirit: Matching Dunn-Edwards Colors To Your Favorite Universities

There’s a hum of excitement in the air that only September carries. Between students beginning their studies and activities and the cooler and crisper days that lie ahead (YES to eating everything pumpkin-spice-apple-cinnamon-flavored in long sleeves and a scarf), there’s a lot of life happening in the year’s ninth month. Fall football is huge. Like Texas huge (“Friday Night Lights" anyone?). And so is men’s and women’s cross country, soccer and women’s volleyball — all of these sports drawing fall crowds. Color plays a major part of branding for colleges and their teams, making themselves instantly recognizable on the field and on screen.

With a kaleidoscope of color possibilities, we’ve matched Dunn-Edwards paint colors to some of the most prominent western school athletic teams, so you can access school spirit all year long.

University of Texas

Photo Credit: Dave Wilson

Clay Pot DE5174

Cool December DEW383

Big on football (it’s practically a religion) and long on Longhorn pride, the “hook ‘em horns” school stands out from many due to its burnt orange and contrasting white color. We think Dunn-Edwards Clay Pot (DE5174) best represents the school’s most recent iteration of burnt orange — with its slight red inflection — right on the head. That trademark orange is set off with an bright white like Cool December (DEW383).

Arizona State University

PHoto Credit: MIKE LAGMAN

Crimson Strawberry DEA102

Golden Lock DEA121

Arizona is hot, and so are ASU’s Sun Devil colors — a maroon-berry that reminds us of Dunn-Edwards Crimson Strawberry (DEA102) and mid-bright gold Golden Lock (DEA121) that radiates warmth and heat to match ASU’s school spirit.

University of California, Los Angeles

Photo Credit: STEVE CHENG

Safe Harbor DE5865

Vibrant Honey DE5314

Blue is a very popular color in college athletics, especially among the myriad of California schools. Whether it's owed to proximity to the blues of the Pacific Ocean or the rich heritage affiliated with the color blue, you can find it in almost any shade. For example, UC Berkeley celebrates with a navy shade, such as Clematis Blue (DET587) with its deep deep hints of purple, while UC Santa Barbara shows pride with a deep ocean blue, like Sapphire Blue (DEA137). But should you be looking for some UCLA pride, hunt through Dunn-Edwards color catalog and you’ll find that Safe Harbor (DE5865) and gold in Vibrant Honey (DE5314) tell the story of Bruin pride.

USC

Photo Credit: DIGITONIN

Red Ink DEA151

Bumblebee DE5342

One California university that doesn’t sport blue? The University of Southern California and their Trojans. Show your support for the cardinal and gold and one of college football’s winningest football teams with Red Ink (DEA151) and Bumblebee (DE5342).

University of New Mexico

Photo Credit: RIVERRAT303

Red Contrast DEA106

Castlerock DE6375

Pointed Rock DE6363

Students wear red, silver and gray to show their school spirit for the Lobos teams of the University of New Mexico, where the women’s cross country team ranks highly. Like countless other schools in the west, and across the nation, UNM colors include red. UNM’s cherry, as it is referred to, offers tones of magenta we liken to Dunn-Edwards Red Contrast (DEA106). For the school’s silver try silvery-gray Castlerock (DE6375), and to match Lobo Gray, we suggest Pointed Rock (DE6363).

To seek color match the rest of your favorite universities, check out Dunn-Edwards paint color catalog here.