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Good morning, everyone. What you see above may be the photo that best describes the entire 2024 college football season. Basically, you had a handful of teams trying to hold on to at least a little bit of tradition, taking on a bunch of schools that love dressing in white from head to toe and not tucking in their undershirts. Yes, a lot of teams also love going BFBS, but that’s been a thing for some time, while WFWS has exploded this year. By White For White’s Sake, I mean teams with regular helmets and pants of a different color adding white buckets and britches to go all “icy.” At least the Big “12” title game between Iowa State and Arizona State looked pretty good, but it didn’t make the Championship Week 5&1. Who did? We’ll get to that after the (mostly) usual Sunday Morning Uni Watch routine. Here to take us to the next level is the usually unusual, rarely routine, and always amazing Terry Duroncelet, Jr. Take it away!
…..
From Friday, December 6th
• Boise State/UNLV: Color vs color! I normally don’t really care much for insert-color-here vs. grey, but something about this game was nice to look at. (JV: I’m still trying to find what that something is…)
• Jax State/WKU: BFBS for the not South Carolina Gamecocks. Actually, is this BFBS? My knowledge on Jax State is super-shallow, so I don’t know if black is an actual official color of theirs or not. (JV: according to their style guide, colors are red, gray, and white. Black is only an approved complementary color, along with Magnolia, Roosters Crow, and…Pelham Passion?)
From Saturday, December 7th
• Miami (OH)/Ohio: Nothing groundbreaking here, but Leo Strawn Jr. sends this in: “Was watching the Bobcats for the first time this year in the MAC Championship and I’m stunned that THE hasn’t sent a cease and desist to Ohio over this. They went out of their way to try and block the O (pun intended) that Oklahoma was using when they were registering their drum major image a few years back.”
• Louisiana/Marshall: The above game was apparently such a look, they had to run it back for the Sun Belt champ tilt.
• SMU/Clemson: Always a treat to see Clemson in white over orange. (JV: Yes!)
• Texas/Georgia: Higher-ranked Texas wore white as the designated home team against Georgia, who –if we’re being honest– was basically playing a glorified home game.
• Oregon/Penn State: A different kind of Contrast Matters: Something Old, Something New, Something Loki Green, Something Navy Blue Edition. Seeing the dichotomy between ultra-modern vs ultra-conservative was fun (and a little hilarious), although part of me still wishes we got this instead.
• Arizona State/Iowa State: Another clinic on how to make your game against an opponent with a similar color scheme NOTlook like a scrimmage game. Definitely my favorite-looking game from champ week.
…..
Thanks, Terry!
Surprise! FCS Second Round Uni Watch
With our Canadian correspondent Wade Heidt in hibernation…I mean, in hockey mode now, and since the FBS schedule was on the lean side this week, I thought it was a good time to catch up on the uni happenings in the Football Championship Series playoffs. This weekend was the second round, and there were eight games played. We’ll take a look at all eight matchups. No ranking, just some observations. Let’s begin with…
UT Martin vs. Montana State
It’s Auburn-Lite vs. a very solid FCS classic.
Lehigh vs. Idaho
What’s better than brown on a uni? Something like Mocha Mousse…which I *just* found out is the 2025 Color of the Year!
Illinois State vs. UC Davis
I see those teeth, Redbirds, which you’re not supposed to have. About the only thing I like here is the script “Davis” and the raised strips on their helmets.
Tarleton State vs. South Dakota
Individually, I like both unis. I would have dialed down the contrast from 11 to maybe 8, though…perhaps with a purple helmet?
Abilene Christian vs. North Dakota State
I love absolutely everything about those Bison unis, ESPECIALLY the wheat helmet stripe!
Rhode Island vs. Mercer
So different from the NFL Rams vs. Bears, yet equally awesome.
Villanova vs. University of the Incarnate Word
Yowza vs. Yikes. My favorite basketball school was the uniform winnner, but UIW is the team that advanced to the next round.
Montana vs. South Dakota State
I’d prefer contrasting bunnies to stealth bunnies. The Griz, on the other hand, are another classic gem from the Treasure State.
…..
That was fun. I think I’ll do this again next week if you agree.
2024 Uni Tracking
Uni Watch will again track the combinations worn by the Power Four college football conferences. Long-time trackers Rex Henry (tracking the ACC), and Dennis Bolt (now tracking the Big Teen) are returning, as is Zach Wooldridge (tracking the SEC). This year Derek Buchheit will be tracking the Big “XII” for us.
“Oregon vs. Penn State for the Big 10 Championship. Generic, all-white tradition vs. ever-changing black, bright green and chrome. The last time the Ducks and Nittany Lions faced off was almost exactly 30 years ago in the 1995 Rose Bowl. It was the culmination of—what many consider—the season that catapulted Oregon to the stage that it now sits on regularly. Penn State 1994 and 2024 look almost identical since PSU is the textbook example of ‘less is more’ and their uniforms are generic white and blue. And Oregon is the polar opposite in that they have not repeated a combination in a given season for years.”
Once again I’ll give you five really good matchups and the worst looking one of the week. Unlike most lists, it’s not an *exact* ranking. It’s the five matchups that caught my eye the most, then I rank those from 5 to 1. Agree or disagree, but either way let’s have some fun with it.
…..
Here’s a rare overhead shot of the MAC championship game…I mean, the Sun Belt championship game…I mean, the second round FCS game between Tarleton State and South Dakota. Oh wait, I had the wrong glasses on. Anyway, one of those generic looking matchups actually made the Top Five. Let’s see which one and where it ends up. It’s not at number five, though, because we begin with…
5. The “Really REALLY Black Knights” Game:
Tulane vs. Army
Tulane needed the Green Lantern instead of the Green Wave to take on these Blackest Knights.
4. The “Best Mono-Red Uni Of The Week” Game:
Marshall vs. Louisiana
If the Herd had striped pants, this could have been ranked as high as number two.
3. The “Apples And Burnt Oranges” Matchup:
Georgia vs. Texas
Points off for wearing white at “home,” Longhorns.
2. The “Looks Good Even Without The Googly Eyes” Game:
Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State
Thanks to both teams for keeping it from looking like another chess match.
1. Simply The Best:
Clemson vs. SMU
Probably the easiest number one I’ve ever picked.
&1…UNLV vs. Boise State
Snow *might* have saved this matchup, but then again maybe not.
Walking Off Another Week, And Another Regular Season
Next Sunday is going to feel weird. The rest of the SMUW Crew will have a much-deserved couple of weeks off, but I’ll be back with an Army/Navy review, along with some other stuff. Big giant thanks to Terry, Wade, Rex, Dennis, Derek, and Zach (and a super thanks to Paul and Phil) for an outstanding 2024 season of Sunday Morning Uni Watch. We’ll get the band together at least two more times during the bowl season. Oh, and what’s better than my Simply The Best? A Simply The Best that ends with a walk-off field goal!
Take care, everyone, and I’ll see you next weekend.
Iowa St vs Arizona St doesn’t make the Top 5?!? I thought that was a lock!
I KNEW Clemson/SMU was going to be a great looking game. Thanks for making that #1! Loved Oregon’s helmets. That’s about it. Penn State looked classy as always (they own the solid white look). Tulane looked pretty great too! Love when they wear that helmet decal. Their green helmets looked just as good as Oregon’s. Nothing special/spectacular about Georgia/Texas. It was just a good looking game. My friend’s son pitches for Jacksonville State, so I had to pull for them.
Now to see what kind of uni-combos we will be subjected to during the CFP.
I thought ASU/Iowa State was nice. Clemson/SMU was the best. Georgia/Texas would have been better on grass. Something about the Atlanta venue’s turf looks awful! Boise State and UNLV was okay but the blue turf is very distracting and the novelty of it has long ago ran it’s course.
Would the Packers ever dare to go go green helmets/gold jerseys/green pants?
NDSU is dope!
Illinois State Alum here…we are the Redbirds showing teeth, not Cardinals!!
Gritting my teeth (which I’m supposed to have) over that late-night mistake. I used to know that.
Now fixed. Thanks for the reminder!
We love NDSU up here in the Fargo area. Lots of people loved the wheat stripe and hope they keep it. Tulane can’t really mess up their uniform. Penn State is just classic. Loved the SMU vs Clemson game, UNLV and Boise State? .
U.G.L.Y.
NoDak looked awesome, as always, but Abilene should have worn a dark jersey.
Canadian football season may be over but I can’t go into hibernation just yet. Seems Christmas party season has just started for me! Can’t just go to one Christmas party this year it appears. Plus, the beautiful sound of hockey skates cutting up the ice keeps me awake.
I am curious and have a question for Boise State fans out there. I understand the blue field is their thing. Would any fans be upset if they quit using the blue field next time the stadium changes out the turf?
Well if you won’t, I will.
Division I-AA 5&1
5) Tarleton/SD
4) Lehigh/Idaho
3) UT-Martin/Montana St.
2) AC/NoDak
1) URI/Mercer
and 1)Illinois St/UC Davis
Okay, since you did one, I’ll play along.
5. Tarleton State/South Dakota
4. UT Martin/Montana State
3. Montana/South Dakota State
2. Abilene Christian/North Dakota State
1. Rhode Island/Mercer
&1…Villanova/UIW
The Bison uni did all the work in that matchup. If ACU would have made more of an effort I would have given them the top spot. And it pains me to put the Wildcats in an &1, but that UIW uni is SO bad.
Thank you for budging Jim! Interesting with your ranking because I like how rhode island and villanova have two shades of the same color as their primaries, but personally think rhode island’s looks a little better. cheers!
That picture of Boise State and UNLV I initially thought was doctored by putting UNLV in black & white.
The weather certainly made it seem that way!
Jim,
Definitely want more I’m Still Calling It I-AA. I’m happy my hometown Davis Aggies moved on, but disappointed they wore mono blue. Their gold-navy-gold is a college classic. Their white-white-blue road uni is good too, with their A-inside-wishbone-C logo. The script Davis is a harkback to their D-II heyday. Hoping for another win and a better look next week. Thanks for the I-AA love Jim.
Hello All.
Oregon‘s kit last night was atrocious. Blobs of block with some white and green mixed in. Hard to see the „O“ on the helmet. Just ugh.
Iowa State‘s uni would have been better with both a helmet crest stripe pattern and pants hem pattern reflecting that on the shoulder caps.
Clemson looked gorgeous. Thanks, Dabo, for having a uniform policy.
Has Texas ever worn burnt orange hem stripes?
NDSU has a winner with the wheat stalk crest „stripe.“
Can‘t wait to see Army’s Battle of the Bulge anniversary unis next week, going up against Navy‘s VF-84 inspired kit.
Take care!
Clemson – SMU might have been the single best looking game of the entire year. Just wow! And bonus points for those retro looking jackets the Clemson coaches were wearing.
Texas – Georgia would have been a much better looking game had the Horns chosen to wear orange tops. Even though it’s their standard road uni, Texas in head to toe white is starting to get swallowed up by what seems like every other team in the country doing that now.
And as much as I want to love those ND St unis, that awful number font ruins it for me.
If the Steelers won’t go back to block numbers, I wish they’d adopt ND State’s numbers instead of what they have now. Or maybe the Titans could use that font.
“Texas – Georgia would have been a much better looking game had the Horns chosen to wear orange tops.”
Unfortunately, Texas — despite the higher ranking — had no say in the matter. The SEC decides it’s designate “home” and “road” teams the same way the Super Bowl does. It alternates Divisions by year. This year it was the “old” SEC East, next year “old” SEC West, etc. Even though the SEC, along with other Conferences, have done away with Divisions, they still go by that in terms of deciding home/away for the Champ game.
Without Divisions, I’m not sure how long they’ll keep that going, but that’s the way it is for now. I’m not so sure I like them keeping the old designations since there are no longer Divisions — Texas, as the higher ranked team, should have had first choice for uniforms.
Yeah my bad – I assumed they chose white as the higher ranked team.
I didn’t look up my concern, just going by what I witnessed when watching the Georgia-Texas SEC title tilt (and maybe what I heard on likely SportsCenter on Thursdayor Friday). But, …
Georgia was called the visitor during the initial and bonus-time coin tosses. I had heard, again likely on SC, that Texas had the choice of unis as the home team and wanted to “go with their icy white look.” Not trying to make an issue out of a non-issue when things boil down to it, just what I saw and heard.
Without making a second post, I really wish that Boise had worn some secondary color, somewhere in n those mono kits.
Or a third post: I went to a university whose colors are green and gold, both of which have varied over the years, and the mascot is the Bison. So I have long felt a connection with the Bi(z)on of North Dakota State, and I think its number font is slick!
As a UNLV alum who has lived in Boise for 20 years, yesterday was a big day for me. I was extremely disappointed with the lack of red on UNLV’s uniforms.
Yes to more FCS! Loved it!
The NCAA shouldn’t allow Boise to wear all blue on a blue turf. They need contrast since it’s such a unique thing
Bring back the purple jerseys and pants for Clemson!! Not necessarily together, but every now and then it’s not bad as well.
They wore them like 2 weeks ago.
PSU’s pants don’t have their logo on the upper hip, in case the Uniform Tracker guy who did the B1G wanted to make that small change.
Many of us in the Oregon fanbase were hoping the Ducks would go with the fauxbacks shown in the USA Today Sports graphic, essentially recreating the 1995 Rose Bowl. Opportunity lost.
Iowa St vs Arizona St doesn’t make the Top 5?!? I thought that was a lock!
I KNEW Clemson/SMU was going to be a great looking game. Thanks for making that #1! Loved Oregon’s helmets. That’s about it. Penn State looked classy as always (they own the solid white look). Tulane looked pretty great too! Love when they wear that helmet decal. Their green helmets looked just as good as Oregon’s. Nothing special/spectacular about Georgia/Texas. It was just a good looking game. My friend’s son pitches for Jacksonville State, so I had to pull for them.
Now to see what kind of uni-combos we will be subjected to during the CFP.
I thought ASU/Iowa State was nice. Clemson/SMU was the best. Georgia/Texas would have been better on grass. Something about the Atlanta venue’s turf looks awful! Boise State and UNLV was okay but the blue turf is very distracting and the novelty of it has long ago ran it’s course.
Would the Packers ever dare to go go green helmets/gold jerseys/green pants?
NDSU is dope!
Illinois State Alum here…we are the Redbirds showing teeth, not Cardinals!!
Gritting my teeth (which I’m supposed to have) over that late-night mistake. I used to know that.
Now fixed. Thanks for the reminder!
We love NDSU up here in the Fargo area. Lots of people loved the wheat stripe and hope they keep it. Tulane can’t really mess up their uniform. Penn State is just classic. Loved the SMU vs Clemson game, UNLV and Boise State? .
U.G.L.Y.
NoDak looked awesome, as always, but Abilene should have worn a dark jersey.
Canadian football season may be over but I can’t go into hibernation just yet. Seems Christmas party season has just started for me! Can’t just go to one Christmas party this year it appears. Plus, the beautiful sound of hockey skates cutting up the ice keeps me awake.
I am curious and have a question for Boise State fans out there. I understand the blue field is their thing. Would any fans be upset if they quit using the blue field next time the stadium changes out the turf?
Well if you won’t, I will.
Division I-AA 5&1
5) Tarleton/SD
4) Lehigh/Idaho
3) UT-Martin/Montana St.
2) AC/NoDak
1) URI/Mercer
and 1)Illinois St/UC Davis
Okay, since you did one, I’ll play along.
5. Tarleton State/South Dakota
4. UT Martin/Montana State
3. Montana/South Dakota State
2. Abilene Christian/North Dakota State
1. Rhode Island/Mercer
&1…Villanova/UIW
The Bison uni did all the work in that matchup. If ACU would have made more of an effort I would have given them the top spot. And it pains me to put the Wildcats in an &1, but that UIW uni is SO bad.
Thank you for budging Jim! Interesting with your ranking because I like how rhode island and villanova have two shades of the same color as their primaries, but personally think rhode island’s looks a little better. cheers!
That picture of Boise State and UNLV I initially thought was doctored by putting UNLV in black & white.
The weather certainly made it seem that way!
Jim,
Definitely want more I’m Still Calling It I-AA. I’m happy my hometown Davis Aggies moved on, but disappointed they wore mono blue. Their gold-navy-gold is a college classic. Their white-white-blue road uni is good too, with their A-inside-wishbone-C logo. The script Davis is a harkback to their D-II heyday. Hoping for another win and a better look next week. Thanks for the I-AA love Jim.
Hello All.
Oregon‘s kit last night was atrocious. Blobs of block with some white and green mixed in. Hard to see the „O“ on the helmet. Just ugh.
Iowa State‘s uni would have been better with both a helmet crest stripe pattern and pants hem pattern reflecting that on the shoulder caps.
Clemson looked gorgeous. Thanks, Dabo, for having a uniform policy.
Has Texas ever worn burnt orange hem stripes?
NDSU has a winner with the wheat stalk crest „stripe.“
Can‘t wait to see Army’s Battle of the Bulge anniversary unis next week, going up against Navy‘s VF-84 inspired kit.
Take care!
Clemson – SMU might have been the single best looking game of the entire year. Just wow! And bonus points for those retro looking jackets the Clemson coaches were wearing.
Texas – Georgia would have been a much better looking game had the Horns chosen to wear orange tops. Even though it’s their standard road uni, Texas in head to toe white is starting to get swallowed up by what seems like every other team in the country doing that now.
And as much as I want to love those ND St unis, that awful number font ruins it for me.
If the Steelers won’t go back to block numbers, I wish they’d adopt ND State’s numbers instead of what they have now. Or maybe the Titans could use that font.
“Texas – Georgia would have been a much better looking game had the Horns chosen to wear orange tops.”
Unfortunately, Texas — despite the higher ranking — had no say in the matter. The SEC decides it’s designate “home” and “road” teams the same way the Super Bowl does. It alternates Divisions by year. This year it was the “old” SEC East, next year “old” SEC West, etc. Even though the SEC, along with other Conferences, have done away with Divisions, they still go by that in terms of deciding home/away for the Champ game.
Without Divisions, I’m not sure how long they’ll keep that going, but that’s the way it is for now. I’m not so sure I like them keeping the old designations since there are no longer Divisions — Texas, as the higher ranked team, should have had first choice for uniforms.
Yeah my bad – I assumed they chose white as the higher ranked team.
I didn’t look up my concern, just going by what I witnessed when watching the Georgia-Texas SEC title tilt (and maybe what I heard on likely SportsCenter on Thursdayor Friday). But, …
Georgia was called the visitor during the initial and bonus-time coin tosses. I had heard, again likely on SC, that Texas had the choice of unis as the home team and wanted to “go with their icy white look.” Not trying to make an issue out of a non-issue when things boil down to it, just what I saw and heard.
Without making a second post, I really wish that Boise had worn some secondary color, somewhere in n those mono kits.
Or a third post: I went to a university whose colors are green and gold, both of which have varied over the years, and the mascot is the Bison. So I have long felt a connection with the Bi(z)on of North Dakota State, and I think its number font is slick!
As a UNLV alum who has lived in Boise for 20 years, yesterday was a big day for me. I was extremely disappointed with the lack of red on UNLV’s uniforms.
Yes to more FCS! Loved it!
The NCAA shouldn’t allow Boise to wear all blue on a blue turf. They need contrast since it’s such a unique thing
Bring back the purple jerseys and pants for Clemson!! Not necessarily together, but every now and then it’s not bad as well.
They wore them like 2 weeks ago.
PSU’s pants don’t have their logo on the upper hip, in case the Uniform Tracker guy who did the B1G wanted to make that small change.
Many of us in the Oregon fanbase were hoping the Ducks would go with the fauxbacks shown in the USA Today Sports graphic, essentially recreating the 1995 Rose Bowl. Opportunity lost.