SIUE Announces Alternate Identity in Celebration of the Route 66 Centennial

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) will introduce a new alternate athletic identity, the “SIUE 66ers,” beginning January 1, 2026. The announcement aligns with the 100th anniversary of Route 66. All 16 SIUE athletic programs will use the 66ers identity at least once during the 2026 season. The university has released a new logo and a red, grey, and yellow color scheme for the change.

The 66ers identity will debut during a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on New Year’s Day. The wrestling team will follow with its first 66ers competition on January 10.

Last season, the SIUE men’s basketball team finished with a 22–12 record and a 13–7 mark in conference play. The team won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, defeating Tennessee State and Southeast Missouri State to secure the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. SIUE was eliminated in the first round with a loss to Houston, 78–40.

The Route 66 centennial recognition and the introduction of the 66ers identity mark a coordinated effort by the university to acknowledge the highway’s connection to the region while continuing to advance SIUE Athletics.