College Football Uniforms, Part 1: The Best Uniforms in the Game

Last night, #3 Boise State and #13 Virginia Tech (based on today's AP Poll) played a great game. There were big plays, lead changes, and anyone who tuned in last night got a match-up that lived up to the hype.

Something else fans saw were new uniforms by both teams.

Boise State's uniforms didn't really do anything for me, but I didn't have any particular issue with them.






Not the case with Tech's uniforms. I saw them, and immediately thought 'wtf?!?!' I made a joke on my facebook page the other day stating that they looked like they were designed by M. Night Shyamalan. Look, I realize with fashion and :::achem:::"artistic expression," it's a matter of opinion when it comes to whether they are good-looking or ugly. But these uniforms just looked so strange to me.

It made me think, and then I asked myself 'what are the ugliest uniforms in college football?'

To answer that question, a benchmark needs to be set. What makes a good-looking college football uniform?

The best uniforms represent what college football is all about - tradition and modesty. Good uniforms make you feel like you're looking at a photo album from decades past. They should remain relatively true to what previous teams from that school wore. They shouldn't be flashy. No cartoonish fonts for the numbers. No elaborate graphics. No flashy color schemes. Let the NFL teams use all of that to sell their products. The uniform should give off a vibe that these young guys love football, and are about what's good for the team. They don't need flash and glitz. They don't need to be noticed. They just want to play, share in whatever success they achieve, and respect and honor the traditions of the team.

Here are 5 schools that, according to what I described above, have the best uniforms. You'll find that all of them are based around a simple design of jersey color, normal font for the numbers, and a constant logo on the helmet:

Honorable Mention: Division III schools - Almost every small school college football game I've seen, the uniforms are classy. Block letter on the Helmet, maybe the mascot. Simple design. Understated. Here is where you'll find some of the best looks.

5) BYU Cougars - While they are a rip-off of the Yale jerseys, they still look good. The classic Oval logo with the 'Y' in the middle is displayed on the helmet. The rest is simple and dignified.

Here's why these jersey's are special: When the school changed them, it just didn't look right. Back in the early part of the Aughts, the team wore uniforms that looked more flashy and "with it" (whatever that means). The fans never liked them, favoring the traditional style the team wears today. Coincidentally (or not), the experimentation happened when the program hit a rough patch. Once they went back to the old unis, the bowl games returned.

4) Michigan Wolverines- Gold Pants. Wings on the helmet. 878 wins, good for the most in Division 1 FBS.

3) Nebraska Cornhuskers - The simple 'N' on the helmet to go along with the jerseys. Awesome.





2) Penn State Nittany Lions - If you want tradition, here it is. They wear plain helmets with just a single blue stripe going down the middle. Jerseys are a solid navy blue or white, depending on whether they are home or away. What sets these apart is the fact that the players' names aren't on the backs of the jerzeys. It symbolizes modesty. No one is above the team.

1) Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Whether you like them or not, Notre Dame's uniforms make the team look like kings. The gold helmet, the simple, navy blue jersey, and the gold pants make the team look like champs even when they have a losing season. Different from other teams on this list, Notre Dame has an alternate home green jersey that is reserved for special games. As a symbol of unity and modesty, there are no names on the backs of the jerseys. A nice get-up.


So there. Here is what college football teams should look like. My next post will concentrate on the ugly uniforms.