Best in Show

Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors: Retro and Rainbow, 2015

Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Florida International Panthers: Miami Vice, 2024

Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Houston Cougars: Paying Homage to the Oilers, 2023

Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Florida Gators: Simplistic Throwback Perfection, 2019

James Gilbert/Getty Images

SMU Mustangs: Repping Dallas, 2019

Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Most Ambitious

Florida Gators: Gator-Print, 2017

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Michigan State Spartans: Neon Green, 2019

Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Colorado Buffaloes: Throwbacks Gone Too Simplistic, 2009

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Yankee Stadium Crossover, 2018

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Miami Hurricanes: Orange Sleeves, 2005

Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Craziest Helmets

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Big Red Front and Center, 2024

Savannah Philpot/WKU Athletics

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Honeycomb Theme, 2012

Geoff Burke/Getty Images

Utah Utes: Rose Bowl Specials, 2022

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Georgia Bulldogs: Georgia Tries Grey, 2011

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Virginia Tech Hokies: The Flexing HokieBird, 2012

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Most 'State-triotic'

Maryland Terrapins, 2011

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Colorado State Rams, 2017

Colorado State Athletics/csurams.com

Texas Tech Red Raiders, 2014

Jerod Foster/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Best from the Final Frontier

UCF Knights: Space U, 2023

Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Purdue Boilermakers: Honoring the School's Astronauts, 2019

G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images

Air Force Falcons: Representing the Space Force, 2022

Air Force Athletics/goairforcefalcons.com

Best Tribute

Boston College Eagles: The Red Bandana Series

The Eagles have donned uniforms featuring a red bandana pattern and a 'FOR WELLES' nameplate once a year since 2014. The uniforms pay homage to Welles Crowther, a Boston College alum who died saving lives in the Sept. 11 attacks while wearing a red bandana. John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

UAB Blazers: The Children's Harbor Series

A tradition since 2016, UAB has worn special jerseys for select games as part of a partnership with Children's Harbor, a service center for seriously ill children and their families in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blazers' Children's Harbor jerseys feature the names of patients on the back in place of those of players. Kamp Fender/uabsports.com

Worst Trend to Never Catch On

Block Letter Jerseys

A very brief but nevertheless unfortunate stint in the pantheon of alternate uniform history was the spurt of designs in the early 2010s featuring jerseys with block letter logos front and center. Of the assorted pitfalls an alternate uniform can hit, these ran the gauntlet. Eric Francis/Getty Images Eric Francis/Getty Images Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Lifetime Achievement Award

Oregon

Undoubtedly the most prolific uniform-producing school, the Ducks put out more uniform combinations in a season than some programs do in a decade. Instead of trying to choose which categories to slot them into -- since they've produced enough memorable combinations to be involved in just about every option, really -- we're simply giving the Ducks a lifetime achievement award, showcasing a short palette of their range here. Steve Dykes/Getty Images Steve Dykes/Getty Images Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Best Alternate Uniform Reveal Series

Notre Dame

While there have been plenty of great alternate uniform reveals, nobody in the game has committed to a bit quite like Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish started in 2022, parodying 'The Hangover' to unveil their uniforms for that year's Shamrock Series game in Las Vegas. They've since established the movie parody lane as their niche, riffing 'Jerry Maguire' in 2023 and 'Wolf of Wall Street' in 2024. Some guys CAN handle Vegas Feel It. October 8 pic.twitter.com/HdzdAOaCDs — Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 27, 2022

Best Consistent Yearly Alternate Uniform Matchup

The Army-Navy Game

Admittedly, there are not a ton of matchups producing alternate uniform matchups on an annual basis. Or any, for that matter. But it simply wouldn't be an alternate uniform story without plaudits being given to the level of detail put into Army and Navy's respective uniforms on a yearly basis for their rivalry game in recent years. So, like Oregon, we've created a specific category to highlight some of the best Army-Navy alternate uniform showdowns. Daniel Kucin Jr./Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Techs Stick Together Unity Award

Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech, 2007

It felt right to end this piece with an 'alternate' uniform that, while very much not intentional, was certainly memorable. On November 1, 2007, Virginia Tech played a routine road game against Georgia Tech. There was just one issue -- some of the Hokies' jerseys had gone missing. As a result, four Virginia Tech players had to play with the only extra uniforms on hand: Yellow Jacket road jerseys, with new names scrawled on the back and 'Georgia Tech' blacked out on the front. Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images