These rules govern the submission, judging, and awarding of the prize for the cleat design contest. There is no entry fee. Entries that do not meet these requirements will be deleted from the contest. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to the official rules and privacy policy upon submission. The sponsoring organization reserves the right to modify the rules or cancel the contest if necessary.

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1. Eligibility

•  Open To: Currently enrolled students at any Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the United States.

• Proof of Enrollment: Entrants must be able to provide proof of current, full-time enrollment (e.g., student ID, class schedule) upon request.

• Age: Entrants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

•  Exclusions: Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of the Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, the NFL, or the sponsoring organization are not eligible to enter.

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2. Contest Period

• Submission Start Date: October 10, 2025

• Submission Deadline: October 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST

• No Late Entries: Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

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3. Submission Guidelines

•  The Design: 
  The entry must be a design for a pair of football cleats to be worn by Washington Commanders player Jonathan Jones and Houston Texans player Tytus Howard as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative.
   

• Theme: 
  The design must visually represent the player's chosen charitable cause (which will be provided upon entry or can be HBCU-related if a specific charity is not given). The design should also incorporate elements that celebrate HBCU culture, history, or pride.
   

•  Format:

1. Submissions must be made digitally.

2. Acceptable file formats: PDF, PNG, or JPEG.

3.  Required Views: The submission must include at least three distinct views of the cleat (e.g., side view, top view, and back view).

4. Design Template: A template will be provided on the submission website ([HBCUENDZONE.COM/CONTEST]) for use, though it is not mandatory.

5.  No watermarks on design entries.
    

•  Design Statement: 
  Each submission must include a brief written statement (maximum 250 words) explaining:

1. The inspiration behind the design.

2. How the design visually represents the chosen cause.

3. What HBCU the designer attends.
    

• Originality:

1. Designs must be the original work of the entrant. Use of copyrighted or trademarked material (other than official NFL and HBCU Endzone logo if used respectfully) is strictly prohibited.

2. Submissions must not have been previously published and must not contain profanity, trademarks, other organization's logos, or any copyrighted works of any other person or business.

3. NO AI ART OR CLIPART. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE YOUR OWN ART. NO PREMADE ART OF ANY KIND. All entries must be the designer’s original work. Plagiarism is not tolerated.

 

4. Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged by a panel of representatives from the Commanders organization, the Texans organization, HBCU Endzone, and professional designers. Judging will be based on the following criteria:

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Originality & Creativity: 40%

How unique and inventive the design and its visual concept are.

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Clarity of Theme: 30%

How well the design communicates the "My Cause My Cleats" message and HBCU pride

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Feasibility/Execution: 20%

The design's potential for actual production on a physical cleat.

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Aesthetic Appeal: 10%

Overall visual impact, use of color, and balance.

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5. The Prize

The winning designer will receive:

1. Cleat Production: The winning design will be produced on a pair of cleats and worn by Jonathan Jones and Tytus Howard during a designated NFL game.

2. Display: The cleat (or a replica) will be displayed inside the HBCU Endzone booth at the NFL Fan Experience in San Francisco.

3. Recognition: The winner will receive public recognition on HBCU Endzone digital platforms.

4. Designer Gift: A prize package including official NFL merchandise and/or a monetary prize of $500.

 

6. Intellectual Property & Usage Rights

• By submitting a design, the entrant grants the Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, and the HBCU Endzone program an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, adapt, publish, and display the design for promotional, marketing, and display purposes related to the contest and the "My Cause My Cleats" program.

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• The winning designer must agree to transfer all rights to the final, winning design to the Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, and/or its design partners for the sole purpose of cleat production and use by Jonathan Jones and Tytus Howard. The designer will be given proper credit for the design.