The ugliest college football uniforms of all time, ranked
College football is known for its tradition and rivalries, but not all the attention is positive. Over the years, many teams including the Gators, Wolverines, Spartans, and more have featured uniforms that left fans cringing. From questionable colour schemes to designs, the ugliest college football uniforms have sparked debates and plenty of laughs. TUKO.co.ke also reached out to a personal stylist to gain expert insight into the design and styling of team apparel.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Worst uniforms in college football
- 1. Florida Gators alternate (2017)
- 2. Michigan State University Spartans alternate (2019)
- 3. Michigan Wolverines alternate (2011)
- 4. UCF Knights jerseys (2022)
- 5. Maryland Terrapins flag jersey (2011)
- 6. Clemson Tigers purple jerseys
- 7. Colorado Buffaloes alternate (2009)
- 8. Texas Tech Red Raiders alternate (2013)
- 9. Central Florida Golden Knights (2010)
- Interview with a personal stylist
- Final word
Key takeaways
- Colleges have become notorious for their outlandish, flashy uniforms.
- Many teams release alternate or special edition jerseys, often for one-off games. These jerseys can range from futuristic designs to attempts to honour historical moments or events.
- Some uniforms have been criticized for incorporating excessive logos or graphic elements.
- Specific uniforms have earned the "ugly" tag due to the clashing of colours that don't match the team's traditional palette.
- Some programs have attempted to embrace nostalgia with throwback uniforms, but the results haven't always been flattering.
Worst uniforms in college football
The ugliest college football uniforms of all time feature odd colour schemes, design elements, materials, and helmet designs. This list draws on various sources, including insights from Athlon Sports and Sportskeeda, to highlight the most memorable styles.
| Team | Jersey |
| Florida Gators | Alternate (2017) |
| Michigan State University Spartans | Alternate (2019) |
| Michigan Wolverines | Alternate (2011) |
| UCF Knights | QR code (2022) |
| Maryland Terrapins | Flag jersey (2011) |
| Clemson Tigers | Purple alternate |
| Colorado Buffaloes | Alternate (2009) |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | Alternate (2013) |
| Central Florida Golden Knights | Home (2010) |
1. Florida Gators alternate (2017)
Source: Getty Images
This is one of the worst college football alternate uniforms. The Florida Gators 2017 alternate jersey was swamp green with a tonal gator print. The pants and gloves also had a swamp green theme, royal blue accents, and orange details.
The design aimed to mimic an alligator's armoured body and camouflage abilities, but many fans and critics found it visually unappealing. It was described as garish and out of place on the football field.
2. Michigan State University Spartans alternate (2019)
The MSU 2019 alternate jersey featured a striking neon green colour. It was widely criticised for its overwhelming brightness and labelled one of the ugliest uniforms in college football history due to its clash with the team's classic aesthetics.
3. Michigan Wolverines alternate (2011)
Source: Getty Images
The bumblebee design is regarded as Michigan's least appealing uniform. Despite its overall negative reception, the visible numbers were nice.
4. UCF Knights jerseys (2022)
Source: Getty Images
In 2022, UCF replaced the jersey numbers with QR codes that led to player bios. It was innovative but was considered odd and impractical for football players and viewers, making it one of the most criticised uniforms.
5. Maryland Terrapins flag jersey (2011)
Source: Getty Images
Maryland’s flag-inspired design was meant to honour the state. The jerseys were widely criticised for being too busy and overwhelming. The large, bright flag pattern on the shoulders and helmets created a cluttered, hard-to-look-at design. In addition, the colours didn't blend well.
6. Clemson Tigers purple jerseys
Source: Instagram
Clemson’s purple jerseys, occasionally worn for special games, are considered some of the worst college football uniforms. Purple is a part of the team’s colour scheme, but the full purple uniform looks awkward.
7. Colorado Buffaloes alternate (2009)
Source: Instagram
These uniforms are so lacklustre that even an XFL team would reject them. The gold-on-grey colour scheme is the worst possible combination of shades. The helmets are just as bad.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders alternate (2013)
Source: Twitter
Despite being known as the Red Raiders, these uniforms feature a grey-on-grey design. Although they include some red elements, those are the least appealing aspects of these alternates. The thematic nameplates also aren't impressive, with every jersey bearing the phrase "Never Quit" on the back.
9. Central Florida Golden Knights (2010)
Source: Getty Images
Central Florida has often been criticised for its uniforms, which look cheap despite its attractive helmets. In 2010, they attempted to update their look but fell short, resulting in a mismatched combination of black jerseys, gold pants, and white helmets.
Additionally, they used an outdated Nike logo that top schools abandoned years ago. Overall, the uniforms gave the appearance of a high school team, which was disappointing.
Interview with a personal stylist
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, personal stylist Wahu Muchai shared insights on various aspects of design, how style can be tailored to suit different individuals, and the challenges faced within the fashion industry.
Q: As a personal stylist, how do you approach creating visual harmony in your work to balance identity, functionality, and aesthetic appeal?
As a personal stylist who gets to work with celebrities, the most important thing is to balance who they are, what they need and how I want them to be seen or perceived. For instance, if someone is into politics, their image has to give authority, simplicity, but be decent. But if I’m working with like a musician, it has to give some sense of entertainment and be trendy. That means you have to balance the environment and the core of the person, i.e. who they are.
Q: If you were tasked with reimagining a classic team uniform, what innovative design elements would you incorporate to enhance its style and functionality?
I would consider something that would bring identity as well as versatility, which means that it will have detachable features. This will make it perfect for all kinds of weather, whether cold or hot. The other thing I will consider is comfort in terms of fabric. Is it a heavy one or light? I would also prefer something which is modern and has features that represent the team.
Q: In what ways do you think social media-driven fashion trends inspire the design of clothing for different occasions, and what role do platforms such as Instagram and TikTok play in shaping preferences?
I really like the use of TikTok and Instagram in terms of fashion because people have been able to be very creative. The platforms have also enlightened people not to be rigid on what they wear and have given many users a platform to showcase their creativity and make them trend setters. I think when I was starting in the industry, public figures were the only people I used to dress but now I do have daily clients who are not into publicity. Because of influence, people are really selling themselves in terms of personality and fashion on the platforms. You are challenged to look better. I also get inspired in those platforms.
Q: What are some common challenges fashion designers face when creating different types of clothing? And as a stylist, how do you think they overcome these challenges to craft designs that suit various occasions and resonate with audiences?
I can’t pick them out, to be honest, but what I can say is that some of them have been able to create outfits that are versatile and considered sizes. It is hard in the industry where clothes are designed for petite women and the plus-size women not considered but I would love to see is not only designing clothes for the curvy women but also considering their individual physicality. All of us are probably curvy but in a different way, and that is why getting to know your body is very important.
You might be curvy but heavy on the top, making you an inverted triangle kind of body shape. You might be curvy, but your mid part is big, which makes you look like an apple. I think there is no variety for people who have the hourglass kind of body or one that looks like an inverted triangle, and this is something that I hope fashion designers will be able to consider. But I love it that there are a lot of designers who are coming out with amazing styles as well. There is a lot of growth in the industry, but there is also a lot of work that needs to be done.
Final word
The ugliest college football uniforms show how design choices can sometimes lead to memorable missteps. All teams aim for distinctive and creative looks, but there are instances where the results fall short and feature clashing colours, unattractive patterns, and poorly executed themes.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Bill Cyril Salasya (Lifestyle writer) Bill Cyril Salasya is an experienced writer who joined the Tuko team in 2023. He earned a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree in 2021. Bill has 7 years of experience in the field and has worked as a content writer at Strikingly, Urban Ambiance, and WOW Travels. He works on various topics, including technology, lifestyle, travel, entertainment, marketing, etc. In 2023, Bill finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, he expanded his skills through Google News Initiative courses. You can reach him at billsalasya@gmail.com
Clinton Nyabuto (Lifestyle journalist) Clinton Nyabuto is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over five years of professional experience in digital journalism. He has previously worked with the Standard Media Group as a Digital Writer and Sub-Editor, Scooper News Kenya as a Content Editor, and Nairobileo.co.ke as a Content Writer and Editor. For inquiries, contact him via email: clinton.nyabuto@tuko.co.ke.
