Who has the best look? Elite high school prospects weigh in
A ranking of Mike Farrell's favorites helmets a few weeks ago sparked such debate that we decided to take this discussion a step further.
Who has the best uniforms in college football?
We decided to keep it with the Power Five schools – sorry, Boise State, snubbed again – and gave three of our most opinionated staff members (recruiting director Mike Farrell, national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney and social media director Woody Wommack) a vote.
We revealed a new conference uniform ranking each weekday (links and full series schedule below). The series culminates on Sunday with our overall ranking of Power Five uniforms, from No. 1 to No. 65. Also on Sunday, we will reveal the composite score for all 65 teams based off the votes of Farrell, Gorney and Wommack.
Today, however, is dedicated to the opinions of those who really matter in this fun debate – the players.
Let us know what you think each day @Rivals.
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SERIES SCHEDULE
Monday: Ranking the Big Ten uniforms
Tuesday: Ranking the SEC uniforms
Wednesday: Ranking the ACC uniforms
Thursday: Ranking the Pac-12 uniforms
Friday: Ranking the Big 12 uniforms
Saturday: Which uniform is the favorite among top high school prospects?
Sunday: Ranking the Power Five uniforms, Nos. 1-65
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THE PLAYERS' PICK: OREGON
Top prospects still love Oregon’s uniforms, and while other programs experiment with alternative looks to catch the eye of recruits, the Ducks still lead this race - by a wide margin.
In asking Rivals250 prospects which uniforms they like most in college football, a wide majority of them said Oregon, and these were players from all parts of the country, many of them even committed to other schools.
“I’ve always liked Oregon because they’ve been flashy, whether it’s the chrome helmet or the bright jerseys,” one Rivals250 prospect said.
“Oregon for sure,” said a Rivals250 recruit from the Southeast. “They never wear the same uniforms twice and always come up with a new fire design.”
“Oregon Ducks, because they produce the best-looking ones, but also continue to do so more frequently than any other team,” said another top recruit.
And one more: “The best uniform is Oregon, just because the variety of uniforms that they allow you to wear and you’re able to express yourself.”
That last comment came from a four-star who’s committed to an SEC powerhouse, so the Oregon brand still carries a ton of weight throughout college football.
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Last season in the opener against Auburn, Oregon wore its white jerseys with green pants and green helmets with duck feathers on them. The matte look. The following week it was the all-green look from top to bottom. Against Montana it was the all-yellow look with jersey and pants and then the black helmets.
On the road at Stanford, Oregon wore the more-traditional white jerseys with green pants. The following week against Cal, the Ducks had the green jerseys, yellow pants and yellow helmets with metallic duck feathers.
You get it. Every week is something different, something visually appealing and it’s unclear whether the uniform combinations have a direct positive correlation to recruiting, but the Ducks have had the best class in the Pac-12 the last two cycles.
Part of that is coach Mario Cristobal’s aggressive recruiting approach, especially in Southern California. Part of that has to be USC’s recent struggles. Part of that could definitely be the uniforms.
“Oregon’s been the best, still the best, probably going to always be the best,” said a four-star prospect from Georgia.
Oregon won the voting like Ronald Reagan over Walter Mondale in the 1984 election, but some other schools showed up as well.
There seem to be two camps: One is Oregon where flash and style win the day. The other is classic, traditional, never-changing uniform styles, since Penn State and Michigan received a handful of votes.
“PSU,” one Rivals250 prospect said. “Most classic and iconic uniforms in college football.”
“I really like the Penn State uniforms because of the traditional and disciplined look,” another top prospect said.
As for the Wolverines: “Michigan’s home jerseys go different. They just look clean.”
Two five-stars liked Ohio State most, one because of the historic look and one because of an alternative uniform the Buckeyes wear.
“I really like Ohio State’s uniforms the best because of the color and the storied traditions behind it,” one said.
The other: “The buckeyes all-black uniforms are the best in college football because the color combination of all black with a little bit of red on the stripe of the helmet make them the most unique.”
The most unique? Oregon, you just got called out.