OK, so college football has had its share of offseason problems lately. But the show must go on, so with the season now underway (there were a handful of games this past weekend) and set to kick into high gear this week, it's time for the annual Uni Watch college football season preview, where we run down all the uniform changes and related visual tweaks for the new season.
As usual, we've prepared a comprehensive team-by-team rundown for all of the FBS schools, organized by conference. In addition to uniform changes, we've included updates to logos, equipment, field designs and anything else related to a team's visual program.
All 130 FBS schools were contacted during the preparation of this article. Schools that are not listed in the rundown that follows either did not respond, reported that they have no uniform changes for the coming season, or are not yet at liberty to discuss uni changes that will take place later in the year. But you can be sure that there will be more new designs in the pipeline -- blackout, whiteout, camouflage and more -- so if your favorite school isn't listed here, that doesn't necessarily mean it's not making any changes.
Ready? Deep breath -- here we go.
Jump to a conference:
ACC | American Athletic | Big Ten | Big 12 | Conference USA | Independents | MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt | Additional notes
ACC
โข No photos yet, but a Clemson spokesperson says the Tigers' new cleats will be "white with purple and orange chrome bottoms." No other changes for this season.
It's also worth noting that Clemson has just announced a 10-year extension of its apparel deal with Nike, so the Tigers will be wearing the swoosh for many years to come.
โข Florida State coach Willie Taggart says the team's uniforms may have "some new combinations" this season, and that a council of players will decide what the Seminoles wear each week.
In addition, here's a good article about the team's tomahawk merit decals.
โข Lots of changes this year for Georgia Tech, which has finally left Russell Athletic and jumped to Adidas. Since the Yellow Jackets are one of two FBS teams that routinely wear white at home (the other is LSU), Adidas has given the school two white jerseys -- one with gold numbers, for home games, and one with navy numbers, for road games. Helmets and pants both come in gold and white options, and can be mixed and matched with either jersey (here's some additional info and photos):
Comparison of Georgia Tech's two new white jerseys: gold numbers/trim for home games, navy for road games. Either helmet can be worn with either combo. pic.twitter.com/Tc8J3VLPXY
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 5, 2018
Bobby Dodd Stadium will also have a new end-zone design:
From the @GTAthletics Instagram account, the new end zones: pic.twitter.com/R4NecvrKib
โ Sports Design Blog (@SportDesignBlog) April 20, 2018
The new uniforms and end zones are part of a sweeping identity redesign that Georgia Tech athletics undertook earlier this year. Here are some of the highlights (additional info here):
.@GTAthletics defined "Tech Gold" as Pantone 4515, which is much lighter than the previous 872, though nothing ever really matched 872. Everything new should match Tech Gold, which is based on the Ramblin' Wreck's paint color. @UniWatch @PhilHecken @sportslogosnet @darrenrovell pic.twitter.com/k22jBqEqgS
โ Sports Design Blog (@SportDesignBlog) April 20, 2018
Georgia Tech's new brand standards call for new colors for Buzz (h/t @SportDesignBlog). pic.twitter.com/0HVLLzKo77
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 5, 2018
.@GTAthletics also unveiled their first ever official wordmark, which is a modern take on campus' Tech Tower and designed with @IMGCollege. @UniWatch @PhilHecken @sportslogosnet @darrenrovell pic.twitter.com/CH5RpotOZl
โ Sports Design Blog (@SportDesignBlog) April 20, 2018
โข Lots of changes for Louisville, including the removal of Adidas' dreaded tire tread pattern, the addition of wings to the white road jerseys, a sublimated pattern based on the Louisville city flag, and -- rather oddly -- front-facing TV numbers:
Comparison of Louisville home jerseys, showing new front-facing TV numbers and other changes. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/QGF4hE8ykc
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
New Louisville jerseys have sublimated pattern based on Louisville city flag. pic.twitter.com/Z7WzXzawyT
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
Comparison of Louisville road uniforms. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/jeCfDuNFOu
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
Closer look at wing pattern on new Louisville road jersey. pic.twitter.com/gAmrMAHE4n
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
Handing out L's all season.
โ LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) August 6, 2018
Peep our new @adidasFBallUS Primeknit #A1 uni.#L1C4 #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/yb8zmKlwNb
Also: In the wake of Papa John's founder John Schnatter's latest controversial statements, Louisville has terminated its stadium naming rights deal with Papa John's. The facility will now be known as Cardinal Stadium.
โข Miami will be wearing a new "environmentally conscious" alternate uniform for the season opener against LSU on Sept. 2. The uniforms, which are made from upcycled plastic marine waste, will be auctioned off to benefit the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (additional info here):
University of Miami Football and adidas Unveil Special Edition 2018 Uniforms Featuring Parley Materials Made From Upcycled Marine Plastic Waste pic.twitter.com/WqKNoSwiPm
โ Phil Hecken (@PhilHecken) August 20, 2018
As for the rest of the season, the Hurricanes have upgraded to a new Adidas template, which among other things means the dreaded tire tread pattern has been scrapped.
Side-by-side comparison of old (left) and new Miami uniforms, showing new collar logo, removal of tire tread pattern on jersey fabric, and new Adidas logo placement on pants. pic.twitter.com/UyEMdwzsjY
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) July 20, 2018
Good look at Miami's three uniforms for 2018. pic.twitter.com/tdCaQe8sOw
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 7, 2018
New nameplate font for Miami. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/P6xEAOSEfC
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) July 20, 2018
Every game. Every jersey the Canes are rockin'.
โ Canes Football (@CanesFootball) August 24, 2018
Take a look at this year's season long jersey schedule and then get your gear to match: https://t.co/e8AjOxpH0c pic.twitter.com/jKrjqBSyOb
โข Remember the shoulder striping on NC State's black alternate uni? A modified version of that has been added to the Wolfpack's entire uniform set this season, along with a few other adjustments:
Comparison of NC State home uniforms, showing new jersey striping and "Wolfpack" lettering on pants. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/yZy3td1tpt
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 3, 2018
A closer look at our new threads ๐
โ NC State Football (@PackFootball) June 8, 2018
๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ@adidasFballUS #1Pack3Stripes pic.twitter.com/2z2qxQTQRy
One of the more interesting design details is that the jerseys feature a sublimated graphic based on part of the North Carolina state flag:
NC State's new jersey includes sublimated graphic based on part of the North Carolina flag (h/t @BrantGNR). pic.twitter.com/dgcX2r58lT
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 3, 2018
Also: The school has announced that any future players wearing No. 9 -- a number that is unassigned on the team's current roster -- will wear a patch honoring former Wolfpack players Bradley Chubb and Mario Williams, who previously wore that number.
โข No announced changes for Pitt, but a team spokesperson has said that the Panthers will be "frequently and proudly showcasing [their] retro colors" this season and next. That presumably means the team will be trotting out its much-loved throwbacks.
โข UNC has new game balls and -- get this -- new down markers. Pretty sure this is the first time we've ever featured that in one of our Uni Watch season previews:
Game balls for @TarHeelFootball from @BigGameUSA just arrived and look great. We will use a mix of the interlocking NC and the Tar Heel foot this year for gameday. pic.twitter.com/P3YGgyD11D
โ UNC Equipment (@UNCEquipment) July 17, 2018
Our down markers got a much needed upgrade for this season thanks to @SidelineInt & @victorygameclks! Looking forward to seeing them on Saturdays @TarHeelFootball @Tar_Heels_Turf! #GoHeels #EasyOnTheEyes pic.twitter.com/2IKngMAfyy
โ GoHeelsGameDay (@GoHeelsGameDay) August 6, 2018
โข According to this hype video, Virginia's new name and number fonts "will stand the test of time." Yeah, until they change them again in a couple of years (additional photos and info here).
THIS IS THE NEW STANDARD
โ Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) April 27, 2018
โ๏ธ๐ท๐ถ๐๐ท๐ถ โ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/ofzAsF1lKL
โข Unusual new set for Virginia Tech, which is going with diagonal jersey striping that isn't normally seen on a football field:
Look good, feel good, play good... New threads for 2018!!! #HOKIES
โ HokiesFB ๐ฆ (@HokiesFB) April 11, 2018
๐ฆ HARD โข SMART โข TOUGH ๐ฆ pic.twitter.com/OYB5UtUuU8
In addition, the Hokies have published the schedule for this season's color-out games.
American Athletic
โข East Carolina has a new uniform and a new set of branding standards, all courtesy of Adidas (additional info here, here, and here):
New ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ #HereToCreate @adidasFballUS @American_FB @ECUAthletics pic.twitter.com/69a3sFcslq
โ ECU Football (@ECUPiratesFB) April 25, 2018
โข Although there hasn't yet been an announcement, a video has been circulating that appears to show new gray uniforms for Memphis, among other changes. A school spokesperson confirms that an official unveiling will follow shortly.
New uniforms for Memphis football? ๐ค๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/M0tfK4fsMI
โ Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) August 15, 2018
โข Temple's new uniform set features an unusual gradation pattern across the jersey chest:
Can't wait to break these in Sept 1st!
โ Temple Football (@Temple_FB) July 12, 2018
In the meantime... #uniswag#TEMPLEmade x #TempleTUFF pic.twitter.com/YZWSsXFY6q
๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ SWAG ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ #TempleTUFF #STACKdays @UNISWAG @UAFootball @UniAuthority @TheBestGear @FootballScoop @UniWatch @PosterSwag @KNegandhiESPN @si_ncaafb @CFTalk @CFB pic.twitter.com/2lowkAPaea
โ โฆ๏ธโฆ๏ธโฆ๏ธ S.W.A.G. โฆ๏ธโฆ๏ธโฆ๏ธ (@SWAGcoordinator) July 12, 2018
โข Tulsa has upgraded to a new Adidas template, which thankfully means no more tire tread pattern. New gold trim, instead of red, too:
Comparison of Tulsa home jerseys. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/cTy5YUhHDE
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
In addition, the blue center striping on the helmet has been removed:
Tulsa removing center helmet stripe this season. Old version on left (photo by Jessie Wardarski), new on right (photo by Kelly Hines). h/t @sammylazzz pic.twitter.com/NQ5gD7yQ6f
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
โข Buh-bye, Jonathan: UConn is bringing back the block-C helmet logo, and the school will have new uniforms next year (additional info here):
UConn resurrecting block-C helmet in blue and white versions this season. pic.twitter.com/EQ1T3kX4o6
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) July 25, 2018
โข USF has switched from Under Armour to Adidas -- which, unfortunately, has outfitted the Bulls in the company's brutal tire tread jersey pattern:
The wait is over!
โ USF Football (@USFFootball) July 22, 2018
๐ฅ South Florida Football x @adidasFballUS ๐ฅ
Coming to Ray Jay Sept. 1!#teamadidas #BullStrong ๐ค๐ช pic.twitter.com/EFTrAIlDLM
Presenting the 2018 USF Football uniform set! #teamadidas #BullStrong ๐ช๐ค pic.twitter.com/E5N2tlEn0D
โ USF Football (@USFFootball) August 11, 2018
There's also a black helmet with -- get this -- a chrome green face mask:
๐๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/Lr2vA8W8N9
โ USF Football (@USFFootball) August 11, 2018
Big Ten
โข No more metallic matte helmets for Illinois, which has a new set this season (here are some additional photos, info, and analysis):
Respect the past. Represent the future.
โ Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) April 6, 2018
The #Illini will have a bold, yet traditional, look this fall with redesigned @usnikefootball Vapor Untouchable uniforms. #WeWillWin ๐ถ๐ทhttps://t.co/eWfBzjwGnE
First look at the new blue lids ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/rP2XPg9DuE
โ Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 23, 2018
โข Several notable changes for Indiana. For starters, the wordmark on the chest has changed from "Hoosiers" to "Indiana," and the side striping on the pants has been eliminated:
Representing the Hoosiers at #B1GMediaDay.
โ Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) July 16, 2018
๐: https://t.co/773Ndb9wkW pic.twitter.com/lYSd468Mk6
In addition, the school's signature candy striping now appears as a sublimated pattern on the jersey sleeves and pants:
Indiana's new jerseys have sublimated candy striping in the sleeves. pic.twitter.com/pcrF7wY2By
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
Good view of Indiana's sublimated candy striping on jersey sleeves and base of pants. pic.twitter.com/g8vh36GHeL
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
Also: Per a team spokesperson, the Hoosiers will go solid-red -- that's red jerseys and red pants -- for all home games this season.
Finally, the Hoosiers will also wear a memorial helmet decal for former coach Bill Mallory, who died in May. No visual on that yet.
โข Iowa has a new uni number font and has upgraded to a new Nike template, which means, thankfully, no more Flywire collar:
Comparison of Iowa home uniforms, showing new jersey template and number font. Old version on left, new on right (h/t @PensChronicles). pic.twitter.com/SyPzSemWxn
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 5, 2018
In addition, Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley appears to be going with longer jersey sleeves this season -- or maybe he just hasn't had them trimmed yet:
@UniWatch different sleeves for Stanley this year.. old on left, new on right. Looks weird if you ask me.. pic.twitter.com/zMIfU60NhI
โ Nathaรฑ (@fred__rick) August 3, 2018
Finally, it's worth noting that Iowa's tigerhawk logo has been added to the water tower across the street from Kinnick Stadium.
โข Maryland's new uniforms are, characteristically, rather flamboyant:
New Era, New King #1 pic.twitter.com/MuGPMWoaPy
โ DJ (@_DjTurner1) July 19, 2018
Cheat sheet/quick look at the changes to our football unis.
โ Marty Summa Jr (@MartyMcFly34) August 3, 2018
Subtle and effective! #FearTheTurtle | #TeamUA pic.twitter.com/EAgstiP4kh
Fresh NEW look. Same BOLD style.
โ Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 3, 2018
Always Maryland. #FTT | #TeamUA pic.twitter.com/v5u7lxyz12
In addition, the Terps have removed the "Maryland" lettering from their helmets and replaced it with more traditional iconography:
...and of course, the clean NEW look to the hand-painted helmets! #FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/6kGDlCWYOg
โ Marty Summa Jr (@MartyMcFly34) August 3, 2018
Also: The Terps will wear a "79" memorial decal for former player Jordan McNair, who died in June from workout-induced heatstroke. In addition, no Maryland player will wear No. 79 until at least 2021, the year after McNair would have graduated. Further info here.
โข Major news out of Michigan, where the Big House will have blue end zones for the first time:
Blue end zones are coming to Michigan Stadium for the first time in program history. ๐ต๐ต๐ต#GoBlue ใฝ๏ธ๐ pic.twitter.com/dImv2jAskA
โ Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) June 15, 2018
The end zones are similar to many of our bowl games, including the 1998 @rosebowlgame when Michigan won the national title.
โ Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) June 15, 2018
The same maize letters will spell out MICHIGAN in both end zones.#GoBlue ๐ต๐ต pic.twitter.com/XY43GjXB3l
โข With P.J. "Row the Boat" Fleck now coaching at Minnesota, the Gophers have a new uni set that features an oar-themed helmet stripe, all of which seems, well, a bit much (here's some additional info and analysis):
This fall we're debuting a whole new look by connecting our past, present, and future with an all-new #Gophers @usnikefootball uniform combination.
โ Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 20, 2018
๐ https://t.co/GHAMsD5asP#SkiUMah #RTB pic.twitter.com/p7PbLiSl2s
โข Interesting uni quirk at Michigan State, where brothers Andrew, David and Michael Dowell will wear Nos. 5, 6, and 7, respectively.
Glorified backyard ball with the bros! #cominsoon๐ pic.twitter.com/XdNSaFwGH0
โ Michael J Dowell (@mike_mikeyd123) July 15, 2018
โข Very minor tweaks for Nebraska, including removing the pants striping and changing the Adidas logo on the white pants from red to black. Overall, though, the look is extremely familiar:
๐ pic.twitter.com/jmpwc7ShVl
โ โ๏ธ Nebraska Football โ๏ธ (@HuskerFBNation) August 6, 2018
Got 'em seeing Red.
โ โ๏ธ Nebraska Football โ๏ธ (@HuskerFBNation) August 6, 2018
Tradition stays true in our new @adidasFBallUS Primeknit #A1 unis.#teamadidas x #GBR pic.twitter.com/YNCazhJzhI
โข Purdue is going with a matte-finish helmet this year:
Purdue going with matte gold helmet this year (h/t @boiledsports). pic.twitter.com/3r7hoa21Ol
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 10, 2018
โข Rutgers can't seem to decide what to do about its chest logos and sleeve striping, which seem to change back and forth every year or two. The 2018 version features striping on the sleeves and a simple "R," instead of the full school name, on the chest:
Comparison of Rutgers home uniforms, showing changes in chest iconography, addition of striping on sleeves and pants, removal of black outlining on numbers. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/1x4XfWAcUH
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 7, 2018
Also: High Point Solutions, which bought the naming rights to the Scarlet Knights' stadium in June 2010, has officially changed its name to HighPoint.com, and that change is now reflected in the stadium's name. The new name will also appear on the field (sorry, no photo yet).
Big 12
โข Baylor will use the highly rated Vicis Zero1 helmet, which is gaining traction throughout the football world.
โข Iowa State has added a very unusual swirl to its number font:
Trust the Process. #WinInTheDark pic.twitter.com/YVehPA9Gpw
โ Matt Campbell (@ISUMattCampbell) July 10, 2018
Can't say I'm in love with Iowa State's new number font. pic.twitter.com/aUOTgUVHgL
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
In addition, the Cyclones have taken an atypical approach to their helmet warning labels:
@GreenGridiron @PhilHecken @UniWatch
โ Chad Fields (@CfieldsVFL) July 11, 2018
I know we've all seen Iowa State's new uniforms, but check out the helmet warning labels. I've never seen one made vertically. Is that new? Or a custom warning decal? pic.twitter.com/gRJ4Xmg1g6
Finally, it's worth noting that the field at Jack Trice Stadium has a new corporate name, although the name of the stadium itself will not change.
โข Kansas is one of several Adidas-outfitted schools that have escaped the company's dreaded tire tread pattern by upgrading to a new template:
Comparison of Kansas home jerseys. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/JbFhaCzd2k
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 22, 2018
In addition, the Jayhawks have removed the striping from their white pants and are going with a no-frills look below the waist:
Comparison of Kansas white pants. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/KgRYnylxOX
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
โข Kansas State has tweaked its field design:
#KState's new turf installation is complete. Only changes are the Big 12 logos doubling in size, or in other words, Weird Things I Pay Attention Toโข. pic.twitter.com/PPTvfkJ5AS
โ Tyler Dreiling (@TylerDreiling) May 10, 2018
โข Oklahoma has transitioned to Nike's Jordan Brand, so the Sooners will be wearing the Jumpman logo this season (additional info here):
@UniWatch Oklahoma officially released their new Jordan uniform set for the upcoming season. Decent look at the much larger helmet logo, tighter Sooners font, and Jordan brand logo. pic.twitter.com/Od3AOtQYBt
โ derek (@flashstache) July 9, 2018
That's one of several changes they've made. Here's another: They've tweaked the typography on their "OU" helmet logo:
@UniWatch here's the comparison. Old/New pic.twitter.com/EUVvcrLhvg
โ RyanHartwig (@jryanhartwig) April 14, 2018
In addition, the Sooners have tweaked their alternate "Roughrider" uniform (additional info here and here):
@UniWatch updates to Oklahoma's 'Bring the Wood' uniforms with Jordan brand and refreshed font.https://t.co/UAoy5bCNNz
โ Sam McKinley (@dsmightymouse3) July 7, 2018
โข They say everything's bigger in Texas, and this year that includes the "Texas" lettering on the Longhorns' jerseys, which has been slightly enlarged. Black shoes and socks, too.
Subtle changes this year for Texas: larger chest lettering, black socks, black shoes. pic.twitter.com/TJuyCqRtDl
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 13, 2018
โข Subtle change for West Virginia, which has added gold nose bumpers to its blue helmets:
@UniWatch @PhilHecken Super minor change for WVU blue helmets this yr. Seem to have added a gold sticker over the existing black nose bumper.. pic.twitter.com/htz9uhPBJT
โ Broc Barwick (@broc1984) August 6, 2018
In addition, the Mountaineers have added raised "Country Roads" lettering to their neck bumpers:
Country Roads back bumpers for @WVUfootball #uniswag pic.twitter.com/j5xr7J6l6s
โ UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) August 13, 2018
Conference USA
โข All Conference USA teams will wear a helmet decal memorializing former conference commissioner Mike Slive and promoting prostate cancer awareness:
Conference USA teams will honor former C-USA commissioner Mike Slive & promote prostate cancer awareness in partnership w/the Mike Slive Foundation by wearing custom helmet stickers this fall pic.twitter.com/9y5RyLZloZ
โ Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
โข Charlotte has modified its helmet logo by eliminating the "49ers" team name:
New helmet logo this year for Charlotte. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/0rZnSV5BG9
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 22, 2018
โข Florida Atlantic is simplifying its logo. The owl's head is in and the owl in flight is out:
Per @FAUAthletics the following two logos will be used as the main logo going forward. "Florida Atlantic University has recently completed a brand refresh to streamline and eliminate a handful of FAU logos." @PhilHecken @UniWatch #WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/pAC0u6FlNa
โ Jake Elman (@JakeElman) July 13, 2018
โข Marshall has made some subtle tweaks to its green jersey and white pants:
Comparison of Marshall home jerseys, showing new collar, new black outlining on chest lettering, new slogan on inner collar. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/7AhjpjdrP5
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 20, 2018
Marshall going with white belt on white pants this year. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/lSXjIebs1G
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 20, 2018
In addition, the Thundering Herd has a new football design:
We have a new look to our game footballs & they arrived today. They are, shall we say ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅFIRE๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/6dmrqgGtLk
โ Marshall Equipment (@HerdEquipment) July 13, 2018
โข North Texas is adding grey pants to the mix this year:
North Texas adding a gray pants option this year. pic.twitter.com/nELxPR2OMK
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 20, 2018
Also: A team spokesperson says the Mean Green will have a "special surprise uniform set" for one game this season. No details yet regarding the game or opponent.
Also-also: North Texas has a new field design, which is being rendered in an "innovative" field surface that will supposedly be safer for the team's players.
New field design for North Texas. pic.twitter.com/aw4wBybHPm
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 20, 2018
โข Old Dominion has removed its sleeve stripes and replaced them with the school's logo:
Comparison of Old Dominion uniforms. Old front/back on left, new on right (h/t @MonarchUnis). pic.twitter.com/tv1Ad8B7Ys
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 22, 2018
โข Rice has updated to a new Adidas jersey template, which among other things means no more tire tread pattern. Significant typography changes, too.
Comparison of Rice home jerseys. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/qgCSAdzbvA
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 14, 2018
Comparison of Rice road jerseys. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/iIoJa8OIsm
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 14, 2018
In addition, a team spokesperson says the Owls may add a "90" memorial decal for former player Blaine Padgett, who died over the summer. No confirmation on that yet, however.
โข UTEP is transitioning to a lighter shade of orange. You can see the new hue in the school's new uniforms and helmets:
You know what day it is... ๐
โ UTEP Equipment (@UTEPEquipment) August 15, 2018
๐ต: Desert Sky
๐ถ: Sun City
โป๏ธ: White Sands#uniswag | #GearingUpTheSleepingGiant pic.twitter.com/QIW2My9G5j
@PhilHecken @UniWatch new UTEP helmets pic.twitter.com/DJykOIb6iK
โ Alex Solot (@Aisolot) July 17, 2018
โข Western Kentucky is marking 100 years of Hilltopper football with a centennial logo:
Western Kentucky is marking 100 years of football with this centennial logo. pic.twitter.com/0IlCsxLhbG
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
Independents
โข Liberty is joining the FBS this year as an independent, and they have a commemorative logo for the occasion:
Liberty is joining the FBS as an independent this year, and they're marking the occasion with this logo. pic.twitter.com/rUqijVjIh5
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
โข UMass has added a "PG" memorial decal for former director of operations Paul Gorham, who died in June. In addition, the school logo on the team's white helmet has been changed from white to maroon:
New for 2018: @UMassFootball changing logo color on white helmet this season, and also adding "PG" memorial decal to all three helmets for Paul Gorham, former director of operations. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/sgok5QKWS9
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 21, 2018
โข New Mexico State, now an independent, is going with a more traditional look for its road uniform:
New white uniforms this season for New Mexico State. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/ebKyfSB67z
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) July 25, 2018
Interestingly, when the Aggies played their season opener on Aug. 25, a few players still had the old Sun Belt conference logo patches on their jerseys, even though the school is now an independent:
New Mexico St. is no longer a part of the Sun Belt Conference, but some of their jerseys still have the patch... odd. #cfb @PhilHecken @UniWatch pic.twitter.com/KwLfvqUTso
โ Steve Carter (@50stev) August 26, 2018
โข Notre Dame will wear green for the season opener against Michigan on Sept. 1.
In addition, this year's Shamrock Series game is being played at Yankee Stadium, where the Irish will face Syracuse on Nov. 17. The uniform is Yankees-themed, with pinstriped jersey sleeves, pinstriped pants and a pinstriped "ND" helmet logo (additional info here):
Take a more in-depth look at the 2018 #ShamrockSeries uniform that the Irish will be wearing on November 17 in their game vs. Syracuse. #GoIrish โ๏ธ #BeatOrange pic.twitter.com/Zd7fou5qnQ
โ Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 16, 2018
The matte navy helmet unites the Notre Dame monogram with the @Yankees inspired helmet decal. #GoIrish โ๏ธ #ShamrockSeries pic.twitter.com/NkRbmT2OiV
โ Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 16, 2018
Pinstripes on both the sleeves, gloves and pants replicate the iconic @Yankees pinstripes that have been worn for over 100 years by the Bronx Bombers. #GoIrish โ๏ธ #ShamrockSeries pic.twitter.com/CzuivKjJMA
โ Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 16, 2018
Also: The Irish are another team that's going with the Vicis Zero1 helmet this season.
MAC
โข Akron is going with matte-finish face masks this season:
Shipping these beauties back to our good friends @ZipsEquipment - getting them ready with yet another color of face mask - this time with a MATTE finish on the custom Akron Gold powder pic.twitter.com/zCIHneIbAN
โ RedZoneReconยฎ (@RedZoneRecon1) June 20, 2018
โข Ball State has a new white jersey. Like so many MAC uniforms, it's underwhelming, although it's an improvement over last year's:
The secret's out.. New white jerseys for next season! ๐ฅ๐ฅ #ItsTime #WeFly pic.twitter.com/Lmk8grDPfW
โ Ball State Equipment (@BallStateEquip) May 12, 2018
Comparison of Ball State road uniforms. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/OdUoOY0R0b
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 12, 2018
โข Bowling Green has added two new helmets. One is a metallic orange design that will rotate with the team's white and brown helmets. The other is a stars-and-stripes design that will be worn as a military tribute for the Sept. 8 game against Maryland. The helmet's center stripe includes the names of the 111 Bowling Green students who have died in the line of military service.
Two new helmets for Bowling Green. The stars/stripes design will be worn on Sept. 8 against Maryland. The metallic orange will be in rotation with the team's standard brown and white helmets. pic.twitter.com/ssSSQIhYGP
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 14, 2018
โข No announced uniform changes for Miami (Ohio), but the university does have a new Myaamia heritage logo, which symbolizes the relationship between the school and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Expect to see it on season tickets, video boards, and other graphics.
โข Ohio has transformed its shoulder stripes into sleeve stripes, scrapped the contrasting collar and sleeve cuffs, and moved the Adidas logo to the center of the jersey:
Side-by-side comparison of Ohio University home uniforms. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/7xMuEf9NW0
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
Mountain West
โข Air Force has revealed the latest installment in its Air Power Legacy Series of alternate uniforms (additional photos and info here):
This years Air Power Legacy Series alternate uniform is here. This year we honor the AC-130! #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/QiVFj8IrEl
โ Air Force Football (@AF_Football) August 13, 2018
In addition, the Falcons will now mark their kickoff spot with a pair of crossed lightning bolts instead of the boilerplate "X":
For most of football X marks the spot, but at Falcon Stadium we kickoff from the Bolts. 23 days-Go Air Force! pic.twitter.com/lfWVYH31zT
โ Troy Calhoun (@CoachTCalhoun) August 9, 2018
โข Colorado State's new stadium is called Canvas Stadium. The name refers to Canvas Credit Union, which paid $37.7 million for the naming rights.
โข Hawaii has toned down its look a bit. No more "Hawaii" lettering down the pant leg, among other changes:
๐ฅUniform Reveal๐ฅ Check out the new look for your 2018 Rainbow Warrior football team! #LiveAlohaPlayWarrior #HawaiiFB pic.twitter.com/TGPpqUzOwH
โ Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) July 24, 2018
In addition, when the Rainbow Warriors opened their season on Aug. 25, they wore a new black helmet design featuring an image of the Hawaiian Islands:
Someone please show me a better looking helmet than this.#NoCan pic.twitter.com/Rok51i5U1K
โ Robert Kekaula (@RKekaula) August 25, 2018
Also: The team will be going all-black for its home opener against Navy on Sept. 1.
โข Nevada has jumped from Nike to Adidas, which, unfortunately, has outfitted the Wolf Pack in the dreaded tire tread pattern and almost clownishly bold jersey typography (additional photos here:
Comparison of Nevada home uniforms. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/cz53Ng6XSR
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 3, 2018
Comparison of Nevada road uniforms. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/x8viEQfuXy
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 3, 2018
Another thing about these new Nevada jerseys: No TV numbers! Spotters will not be happy about that.
โข Utah is a long way from Polynesia, but that hasn't stopped Utah State from adding a "Polynesian warrior pattern" to its home uniform. "Nike went above and beyond with this custom uniform," says a team spokesperson.
Comparison of Utah State home uniforms. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/oJfFjbKl1h
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 16, 2018
โข Wyoming has changed from Nike to Adidas, which has largely maintained the Cowboys' basic look:
Oh hey there ๐ pic.twitter.com/xxT2jsdmYM
โ Brandon Foster (@BFoster91) July 27, 2018
Pac-12
โข Nothing confirmed yet, but Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin has hinted that the team may have a throwback uni in the works.
โข Arizona State's new uniform features two particularly notable changes, beginning with a sublimated Arizona flag pattern across the jersey chest, which looks pretty great (additional info here):
New Arizona State jerseys feature sublimated chest pattern based on the Arizona flag. pic.twitter.com/mPSqUd2HXI
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 6, 2018
Road and alternate versions of ASU's Arizona flag-based jerseys (h/t @Fresh_Prince80). pic.twitter.com/Pnb5d4QpNC
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 8, 2018
The other big change is on the left leg of the home pants, which now features a big, honking wordmark:
Comparison of Arizona State pants: last year with the pitchfork (left), and this year with the team name. pic.twitter.com/4nvYMin6NN
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 6, 2018
โข Great job by Colorado, which had patients from a local children's hospital create the artwork for this year's season tickets.
โข It wouldn't be a new college football season without crazy new uniforms from Oregon. This year's set features four monochromatic designs -- green, yellow, white, and black -- with ginormous uni numbers and contrasting nameplates (additional info here).
Welcome to @OregonFootball 2.0. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/ZYs68OS6tO
โ Mario Cristobal (@coach_cristobal) August 16, 2018
Flying toward tradition. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/hGD7FHuVEn
โ GoDucks (@GoDucks) August 16, 2018
Reimagine your identity. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/YhGZrpGenk
โ GoDucks (@GoDucks) August 16, 2018
Traveling storm. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/LWpPrttiXe
โ GoDucks (@GoDucks) August 16, 2018
Oregon Football 2.0. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/TN5JJjdlXF
โ GoDucks (@GoDucks) August 16, 2018
โข No visuals yet, but an Oregon State spokesperson says the Beavers will have some sort of special uniform for the homecoming game against Cal on Oct. 20.
โข Stanford has added black outlining to its uniform numbers:
@PhilHecken black outline on The farms new tops pic.twitter.com/97NyDWYkqk
โ Brett Allelyโข (@USC11AllelY) July 26, 2018
โข UCLA has retired No. 42 across all sports, including football, in honor of Jackie Robinson.
โข When you don't have a rotating carousel of alternate jerseys and helmets, you can poke fun at other schools' uniform schedules, which is basically what USC has done:
Announcing our 2018 home uniform schedule!
โ USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) August 9, 2018
(Spoiler Alert: It's a lot of Cardinal and Gold ๐)#FightOn pic.twitter.com/hySsStNNL2
โข Utah has added a 125th-anniversary patch:
125 Years of Utah Football patch for @Utah_Football #uniswag pic.twitter.com/nC0X7cD2sy
โ UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) July 11, 2018
โข Washington has announced that No. 2, which had been retired for former player Chuck Carroll, is being unretired and will be worn each season by a player "who reflects the values of excellence and determination that Carroll was known for." The first such player is junior wide receiver Aaron Fuller, who'll wear No. 2 this season.
In addition, look for the Huskies to have more uniform changes in 2019, when they'll be changing from Nike to Adidas.
SEC
โข Lots of small, incremental changes for Arkansas, which are spelled out in this tweet (additional info here):
What's new?
โ Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) July 10, 2018
Helmet: Returning to "Pearl Cardinal" look
Jersey: Removed the white "chest tusks"
Pants: Stripe was moved up to connect at the waist
Cleats: ๐โ๐๐ก๐ pic.twitter.com/VDzSdXrr6x
Also worth noting: The Razorbacks have usually had a fairly traditionalist approach to their uniforms, but new coach Chad Morris wants to use the school's uniforms as a recruiting tool, which could mean more alternate looks in the school's future.
Meanwhile, Arkansas also has a new football design:
Adding a little โฆ๏ธ to the game day look.#WPS #HammerDown pic.twitter.com/mZdmEGk6LA
โ Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) May 1, 2018
โข Florida is another school that has transitioned to Nike's Jordan Brand, which is interesting if you care about corporate theater but hasn't had much impact on the team's on-field look:
Comparison of Florida road jerseys, showing new Jordan Brand maker's mark and, uh, not much else in terms of changes. pic.twitter.com/DcdVoEuRRz
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 3, 2018
๐ถ๐ทโช๏ธ#Tradition ๐ pic.twitter.com/sl9IZu4PMe
โ Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 17, 2018
๐ถ๐ถโช๏ธ#Alternate ๐ pic.twitter.com/XZesGXkYsi
โ Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 17, 2018
Also: The Gators have never worn a black uniform, but that could be changing. Head coach Dan Mullen hinted that the team will likely have a black uni "at some point." It's not clear if that time frame could include this season.
โข Nothing's confirmed yet, but a Georgia spokesperson says the team may have a one-game helmet decal saluting kids fighting cancer at some point this season. Aside from that, no changes this year for the Bulldogs.
โข LSU is adding a 125th-season jersey patch:
Via @LSUfootball here's the logo to celebrate the 125th season and they will wear a patch on their jerseys all season. @ToddRadom @PhilHecken @UniWatch pic.twitter.com/YuKH8ZI4dZ
โ Griffin Smith (@GriffinTSmith) April 19, 2018
โข Ole Miss is debuting a new white uniform for the season opener against Texas Tech on Sept. 1:
Sept. 1 vs. Texas Tech, we're kicking off the @ESPNCFB slate in style with a special uniform. Nature has a new great white ๐ฆ! #SharkWeek #HottyToddy #FinsUpRebels pic.twitter.com/aY9LxNLMiB
โ Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) July 22, 2018
โข Several small changes for Tennessee, including the elimination of the gray alternate, footwear changing from white to black, and -- most notably -- no more checkerboard trim:
BREAKING:
โ Chad Fields (@CfieldsVFL) July 12, 2018
Sources have confirmed that @Vol_Football will be retiring the checkerboard stripe on the helmet and pants, and will instead have a single solid stripe. These uniform changes are added to the return of black cleats and the dropping of Smokey grey alternate. pic.twitter.com/lMtQRs4q7r
โข Texas A&M is another school that has escaped Adidas' dreaded tire tread pattern by upgrading to a new tailoring template (additional info here):
Comparison of Texas A&M home jerseys. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/WvvhAr6vpo
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 15, 2018
Thumbs up, never cool down.
โ Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) August 6, 2018
Aggies got the new @adidasFBallUS Primeknit #A1 heat.#teamadidas #GigEm pic.twitter.com/G99gbCJJNv
Sun Belt
โข The Sun Belt is the latest conference to allow a "Graduate" patch for players who've already earned their academic degree:
The @SunBelt is adding graduate patches this season, as seen on a South Alabama jersey. (h/t @dsulli12)@UniWatch @PhilHecken @sportslogosnet @USA_FB_Equip pic.twitter.com/0tbSAaG9cp
โ Clint Richardson (@Clintau24) August 25, 2018
โข Louisiana-Lafayette has tweaked its primary helmet and added an alternate helmet. Both of them use the obligatory helmet warning label as a design element, shaping it like the state of Louisiana:
Here is our official helmet for the 2018 season. Main features are 3-D snubbers from @SportStarGear, 3-D American flags from @GreenGridiron, and warning labels in the shape of the Louisiana State outline from #ADI. Visor is from our friends @SHOC_Nation pic.twitter.com/cl3rLiiFp3
โ Ragin Cajuns Equipment Room (@cajunsequipment) July 2, 2018
Secondary helmet for @RaginCajunsFB #uniswag pic.twitter.com/4EMNsPSOvN
โ UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) June 29, 2018
โข Louisiana-Monroe has tweaked its shade of red, along with its logo and jersey font:
Big day in athletics as we announce the brand refresh for all @ULMWarhawks sports! Updated logos, font and colors will be seen beginning fall 2018. Oh and this will be the permanent home jersey next year! #defendthenest #talonsout pic.twitter.com/npoGZHXYFd
โ Todd Dooley (@tdools3) April 22, 2018
In addition, the Warhawks have a new glove design this season:
Gloves for 2018 #takeflight pic.twitter.com/HOVHxlu6W9
โ Warhawk Equipment (@ULMequipment) July 9, 2018
โข South Alabama has changed from Nike to Adidas, which has swapped out the Jaguars' old awkward number font for a new awkward number font, among other changes:
New number font for South Alabama. Old version on left, new on right. pic.twitter.com/BhxFVqLHOy
โ Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) August 2, 2018
18 days until the '18 season. Perfect time to show off the new #18 jerseys.#UniformReveal #ThreeStripeLife#Adidas #MOBSquad @UNISWAG @UniWatch pic.twitter.com/Jkl60uW9Zt
โ #MOBSquad (@USAFBRecruits) August 14, 2018
Additional Notes
โข The NCAA has issued some new (read: not really so new) rules about things like crop-top jerseys, untucked undershirts, and pants that look more like biker shorts. The reality is that we've heard the NCAA sing this song before, and it remains to be seen whether the rules will now be enforced (here's a larger version of the graphic in the tweet shown below).
New @NCAAFootball rule on uniform compliance #UniSwag pic.twitter.com/w06YzGYnik
โ Matthew Althoff (@UVAEquipment) April 30, 2018
โข Another new NCAA rule will limit each team's number of headset-connected staffers to 20, and at least one coach -- Auburn's Gus Malzahn -- isn't happy about it.
โข In the past, stadiums whose naming rights have been sold to corporate advertisers could only have those names appear on the field in generic block lettering. But under a new rule, the rights-holder's corporate logo can now appear.
โข Finally, here's something to look forward to: This is the last year before college football's 150th-anniversary season. Teams will have the option of wearing a commemorative patch.
Phew! Did we miss anything? Yeah, probably. If you know of any college football uni updates that weren't covered here (FBS schools only, please), you know what to do. Thanks.
Paul Lukas will have his annual NFL season preview on Sept. 4. If you like this column, you'll probably like his Uni Watch Blog, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook and sign up for his mailing list so you'll always know when a new column has been posted. Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program, check out his Uni Watch merchandise, or just ask him a question? Contact him here.