Top 25 College Football Uniforms
- AJ Koroly
- Oct 29, 2019
- 9 min read
College football is something a lot of us love. Heck, football itself is one of the most popular sports in America. It is always a great time while in college to head out and watch your school, hopefully, win a game. I may not go to the best football college in the nation, but I am a big aficionado of the game. As most know, there is a top 25 ranking in college football. This is a poll where voters rank the team by their performance, strength of schedule, etc. So, I decided to take a fashion take on college football by creating AJ’s Top 25 of College Football Uniforms! The criteria for my selections ranged from color combinations, number of uniforms, recognizability, to how the uniforms adopt local or regional aesthetics. Hopefully, my rankings will inspire as much debate as the rankings used to determine which teams make it to the playoffs. Maybe colleges will start competing to reach the pinnacle of my ranking! Regardless, please sit back and grab your favorite gameday snack as we dive into the fashion of the college gridiron.
#1 Oregon Ducks
Oregon tops the rankings because they have an excessive amount of uniforms. The program usually has eight different combinations of uniforms per season and at one point had about twelve in one season. Not all the looks payoff in terms of appeal, but the sheer quantity of looks is impactful. The football program and Nike show a strong dedication to innovation when providing new and interesting looks every Saturday. Even if you want to view just the old school green and yellow uniforms, you cannot go wrong. The team’s new looks every weekend make them intriguing to watch and has made them one of the trend setters in college football fashion.
#2 Memphis Tigers
First and foremost, I love tigers. So, the team’s logo is a huge plus, especially with its prominent location on the helmet. Not only that, the team’s jersey has tiger stripes on the sleeves, which is insane! The best part? Their colors are not orange and black, they are blue and silver. This leads to a look that is sleek and stylish. The combination of color and design makes the jersey stand out. Most people may not think it is deserving of a number two ranking, but hey, this is my list! For real though, Memphis’ uniforms update old-school looks into new, sleek designs.
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes
Most football fans know and love this uniform, specifically the helmet. This is because Ohio State has the long tradition of awarding stickers on players’ helmets whenever they make a big play. Not only does the program have this great tradition, they have started branching off into new designs. For example, they have a modern all black uniform and helmet which makes a bold statement. The Ohio State’s tradition teamed with innovation in alternate jerseys awards them the third spot.
#4 Georgia Bulldogs
Okay, this choice may be a little biased. The fact that Georgia has a “G” on their helmet similar to the Green Bay Packers makes this uniform a hit for me. As a proud Wisconsinite, I am a devoted fan to the Packers, so this uniform speaks to me. Despite this, the uniform’s colors of burnt red/orange and black provides a strong look. It is a bold, yet simple design which makes it a hit. But once again, Go Pack Go!
#5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Gold, gold, and more gold. The Fighting Irish uniforms are most notable for the golden helmets the players wear. The sparkle and shine the helmets display ties to the way the program has shined on the field in its long history. Most people, especially those around the Midwest, are easily able to pinpoint a Notre Dame uniform. All you have to do is follow the rainbow to the helmet of gold at the end.
#6 Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers have a great uniform of orange and white colors. The best part of the entire look is the beautiful paw on the helmet. The team used to have uniforms with purple trim which made the design even better, but now it is only on the helmet. The current look of orange and white is still pretty good; however, splashing a little bit of purple back into the jersey could move Clemson up in the rankings. Also, as the defending national champions, Clemson is a highly recognizable team right now.
#7 Iowa Hawkeyes
The Pittsburgh Steelers have, arguably, one of the best uniforms in the NFL. Therefore, the college team with eerily similar jerseys would rank high in the college football uniform rankings. The black and yellow jerseys of the Hawkeyes are simple, but the colors work well together. The logo on the helmet also has a basic look, but it works well with the overall theme. The relation of Iowa’s jersey to the Steelers makes them a top-10 program in the rankings. They are another one of the teams which has stuck with the same look for a long time, primarily because it works.
#8 Washington Huskies
The Washington Huskies have a smooth gold, purple, and white color combination. It reminds me of the mountain ranges tied with a sunset when I look at their uniforms. There is just something so light about the design which makes it stand out. The gold helmet may be the source of this feeling. The team’s success in recent years makes them recognizable for most people and they have a pretty unique color combination. These reasons along with the airy design, give them the eighth spot.
#9 SMU Mustangs
SMU has the great color scheme of America. Their combination of red, white, and blue makes for a patriotic and appealing look. The most notable thing for me is how their mustang logo is large on their helmet. This subtle design feature draws more attention to the uniform which is vital. The combination of a great logo with a nice color scheme makes this look great for me.
#10 Pittsburgh Panthers
The traditional Pitt uniforms, which the team brought back a few years ago was a great decision. The first reason is: the yellow and blue work perfectly together. It is a look that reminds Pitt fans of the glory days of the program, also it just looks nice. Most importantly, the move back to traditional uses the fancy script of the word “Pitt.” Looking at this uniform gives me chills and makes me want to scream “P-I-T-T, Pitt, Pitt, Pitt!” The uniform is well beloved by the team’s fans and inspires pride in their university. The uniform’s impact on the fans and ties to tradition reserve it a spot on the rankings.
#11 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Coastal Carolina has jerseys which remind me of the coast. This seems like an obvious, but you would be surprised how many schools do not have uniforms pertaining to their local areas. The beautiful aquamarine color with the dark black makes the jersey pop. It is a wonderful look which makes me think of the sea and all it provides. The reason Coastal Carolina received this ranking is that their color combination really does make their uniform fantastic.
#12 Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State has had a wide assortment of jerseys over the years. They have moved from the devil logo on their helmets to the pitchfork. Nonetheless, they continue to apply different designs and are close, or as close as one can be, to Oregon’s assortment of designs. The team has gotten away from their traditional red and yellow look in favor of a black and yellow scheme which shows innovation. I applaud them for their innovation, yet the old color scheme would have improved their spot because team success is not a high suit.
#13 LSU Tigers
The purple and gold look of the tigers is one of the more iconic designs in college football. Also, there are tigers too! LSU’s jerseys remind me of the Minnesota Vikings, yuck, somewhat, but they look much better. The program’s uniforms are fairly simple, but they do not need to be extravagant when they have an excellent color scheme. In recent years, LSU has experimented with new purple helmets and other jersey types. This helps boost their standing, but their normal look secures their ranking.
#14 Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming is one of the few programs that could pull off a brown, yellow, and white colored uniform. The unique colors the school has makes their jersey stand out to me. It is not very elaborate, but this fits with the state of Wyoming. The simple design with unique, earthy colors makes me think of Wyoming. It also does not hurt having the cowboy logo. This jersey may not be high on anyone else’s list, but to me it ties to Wyoming well and looks good.
#15 Maryland Terrapins
I cannot say the Maryland state flag is the most appealing thing; therefore, Maryland’s uniforms are not the best looking. However, the fact the college showcases Maryland’s state flag in their uniform designs is impressive. The college shows a strong connection to its state which is not seen in a lot of schools’ designs. The bold design and state connection Maryland implements for its jersey provides them a spot on the list.
#16 North Carolina Tar Heels
One thing, powder blue works. The North Carolina Tar Heels have a wonderful powder blue and white color scheme which looks fantastic. They also incorporate different designs into their uniforms which add small, but delightful changes. The large decorative “NC” on the helmet adds another identifying feature. The school is known more for their basketball team, yet their football uniforms look great and they are recognizable.
#17 Minnesota Golden Gophers
The red and gold color combination of Minnesota provides a stunning look. To me, the most important aspect of their uniform is the decorative stripe on their helmet. It is a small thing that adds a nice feature to the look. Minnesota has experimented with numerous designs over the year, but their primary option is the red and gold. Their uniforms are also known for the prominent “M” on the helmet. It is not the most recognizable design, but it presents nicely.
#18 Tennessee Volunteers
The most notable aspect of Tennessee’s uniform is the large orange “T” on their helmets. The university’s design is highly recognizable as it has been consistent over the years and the school has had success, especially in the Peyton Manning years. My favorite designs from the school are when they have the orange and white checkered stripes on their uniforms. They have a fairly subtle look, but it works well. I think a little more innovation could propel them higher.
#19 Texas Longhorns
Of course, most college football fans know the design of this school’s uniforms. Being in Texas, this makes perfect sense! I enjoy the orange and white color scheme along with the longhorn logo. The design is not intricate, but it has been a lasting image in the team’s history. I can just picture Vince Young running in a touchdown at the Rose Bowl to secure a Texas championship. The Texas look compares to the Dallas Cowboys in how a design has lasted a long time and been an emblem for football in the nation.
#20 Michigan Wolverines
The helmets are all the rave for Michigan. The patented victory stripes on the helmet are the iconic look of the university. This makes the uniform one of the most recognizable in the nation. In recent years, Michigan has experimented with some new looks, while keeping their helmet the same. The goal is to innovate while preserving their history. A notable point is that Michigan was the first university to partner with the Jordan Brand.
#21 USC Trojans
The old-school red and yellow color scheme of USC is a big reason they are on this list. The program also has a strong tradition of on field success and has stuck to the same uniform design for a long time, creating a brand. The trojan logo on the helmet also hits home. I am a big USC fan and seeing their classic look takes me back to the days of Marcus Allen or Reggie Bush. USC may have dropped off in performance in the last couple of years, yet their uniform reinforces their long and storied history.
#22 Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama uniform is straightforward and has stayed essentially the same forever. It is also one of the most recognizable uniforms in college football because of their success over the past decade. Whether you love or hate the Crimson Tide, you identify this jersey and it elicits a reaction. The uniform is a basic combination of crimson and white, yet the reaction it inspires in people due to the team’s success and its recognizable simplicity earns it a lower spot on the rankings.
#23 Boise State Broncos
I may be swayed by the “Smurf turf” field Boise State has. Their blue field adds to their blue and orange uniforms. There is just so much color and it really makes the jersey pop. They also have a large bronco logo on their helmet which identifies the team. The turf may be the defining image of the program, but the uniforms are no slouch either.
#24 Florida Gators
The Florida Gators have changed their helmets from their classic gator logo to a scripted “gators” in recent seasons. I am not a big fan of this helmet change, but the color combo of orange and blue keeps them in the rankings. Florida is another one of those teams, like many of the top teams, that has kept their traditional uniforms for the most part. Their combination of colors and team success provides them the 24th spot, even with the helmet change.
#25 Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky has branched out in recent years. They have the Kentucky checkerboard on their uniforms which clearly relates to their home state. The blue, white, and black color combination is strong. They are similar to North Carolina in that they are more of a basketball school, but this does help with their national recognition. The colors and more recent success make Kentucky the final entry in the rankings.
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