Halloween fell on a Saturday this year, and ten college football teams dressed for it. We ranked their uniforms before kickoff. Now the games are over, so here is the same list graded on what each team actually wore on the field, checked against the game photos where we had them, with how the night went.
The short version: the teams that changed color won the holiday. The ones that only added a story to a normal uniform did not. Every look from the weekend, including the games we did not rank, is in the college football Week 9 uniform guide.
Quick Answers
- What was the best college football Halloween uniform of 2026? Syracuse's first-ever Otto helmet, worn with an orange jersey and orange pants in a 30-27 win over No. 19 SMU. Grade: A.
- What was the worst? Louisville's For The Ville set. It is a good tribute to Muhammad Ali, but nothing about it says Halloween. Grade: C.
- Did Oklahoma State wear all orange at Iowa State? Yes. Orange helmet, orange jersey and orange pants, against Iowa State in all black. Iowa State won 51-49 on a field goal as time expired.
- Did Nebraska debut its black alternate? Yes. Nebraska wore the black alternate with the black helmet against Washington in white and lost 17-10.
10. Louisville: Just Not for Us
via Louisville Football
What they wore: the For The Ville debut, a black jersey with LOUISVILLE in big white block letters and black pants, as announced in August. Stanford wore white. Result: Louisville 52, Stanford 24.
The story behind it is great. The set is built on Muhammad Ali's boxing gear, and Ali is from Louisville. But this list is about Halloween, and a black-on-black boxing tribute would look the same in September. It was a good night for Louisville and a forgettable one for the holiday. Grade: C.
9. Navy: Great Jersey, Wrong Holiday
via Navy Athletics
What they wore: the 1926 centennial set, a gold helmet, a navy jersey with nine gold chevrons (one for each win by the 1926 national champions) and gold pants, at Gillette Stadium. Notre Dame wore white with its gold helmets. Result: No. 5 Notre Dame 35, Navy 13.
As a throwback, this is one of the best of the season. As a Halloween uniform, it isn't one. Navy picked the date for the schedule, not the holiday, and it shows. Grade: C+.
8. UCF: Too Bright for Halloween
via UCF Football Equipment
What they wore: the Mission X Space Game set on Friday night, white from helmet to pants, with the chrome gold facemask and visor. Baylor wore green. Result: Baylor 41, UCF 9.
The tenth Space Game uniform is a nice one, and the helmet is the most detailed UCF has made. It is also all white on Halloween weekend, and nothing about it says October 31. A rough night on the field, too. Grade: C+.
7. BYU: Dark, but Not Spooky
via BYU Football
What they wore: all navy, navy helmet, navy jersey and navy pants, against Arizona State in a black helmet, white jersey and black pants. Result: BYU 27, Arizona State 20.
A really nice set, and BYU got back to winning in it. Dark is a start, but navy isn't a Halloween color. Grade: B-.
6. Nebraska: Now It Feels Like Halloween
via Nebraska Football
What they wore: the black alternate debut, a black helmet with the metallic red Huskers script, a black jersey and black pants under the lights in Lincoln. Washington wore white with its gold helmets. Result: Washington 17, Nebraska 10.
Black at night in Memorial Stadium is the most Halloween thing Nebraska could do, and the red on the helmet popped on TV. It just isn't Nebraska. A red-and-white program going all black is a costume in the literal sense, and the offense didn't show up in it. Grade: B-.
5. Oregon: Better Jersey, Less Spooky
via Oregon Football
What they wore: a matte black helmet with white wings, a black jersey with numbers outlined in green and white pants, as Oregon posted on Wednesday (we did not have game photos to check). Northwestern came in all white and called it "Stormtroopers for Halloween." Result: Oregon 34, No. 20 Northwestern 26.
Black over white against white from head to toe was one of the best-looking games of the weekend. Oregon's look is less Halloween than the teams above it, but it is still dark, sharp and a win. Grade: B.
4. Maryland: That Red Helmet
via Maryland Football
What they wore: a bright red helmet, a black jersey and black pants, "dressed for spooky season," with the Maryland flag stripes on the sleeves, as Maryland posted before the game (we did not have game photos to check). Result: Illinois 20, Maryland 17.
Red over all that black is the right Halloween move, and the red helmet is what makes it. A close loss, but a strong look. Grade: B+.
3. East Carolina: A Fun Halloween Helmet
via ECU Football
What they wore: the new marching PeeDee helmet, white with PeeDee the Pirate marching across the side and a gold facemask, with a purple jersey and gold pants. Temple wore white. Result: East Carolina 17, Temple 9.
A pirate is already halfway to a costume. Put him on a white shell, march him across the side and pair it with purple and gold, and it is the most fun helmet of the weekend. Grade: A-.
2. Oklahoma State: Built for Halloween
via Oklahoma State Football
What they wore: all orange, orange helmet, orange jersey and orange pants, with the skeleton-print cleats from the reveal. Iowa State answered in all black, black helmet, black jersey and black pants. Result: Iowa State 51, No. 24 Oklahoma State 49, on a 34-yard field goal by Kyle Konrardy as time expired.
Orange against black is the Halloween color scheme, and these two teams split it down the middle. It was the best-looking matchup of the night and the best game, too: 100 points, an Oklahoma State touchdown with 53 seconds left, and a penalty on the celebration that set up the winning kick. Oklahoma State lost, but nobody on this list dressed more for the holiday. It was also our Jersey of the Day. Grade: A-.
1. Syracuse: Our Favorite Look of the Weekend
via Syracuse Football
What they wore: the first-ever Otto helmet, a white shell with a cartoon Otto the Orange on the side and a navy and orange stripe, with an orange jersey and orange pants. Before the game we expected the navy jersey; Syracuse went all orange instead. Result: Syracuse 30, No. 19 SMU 27, on a touchdown pass from Angeli to Meyers with 17 seconds left.
Nobody else came close. Syracuse is the Orange, its mascot is a piece of fruit, and on the one night of the year when orange is the point, it put him on the helmet for the first time and dressed the rest of the team in orange. Then it won on the last drive. Grade: A. More: Syracuse's first Otto helmet.
What Made a Good Halloween Uniform This Year?
Color, not a story. The top of this list changed color for the night: all orange, orange against black, red over black. The bottom of the list told a story (Ali, 1926, the space program) on a uniform that would look the same any other week. Stories are great. They just aren't Halloween.
The Bottom Line
Syracuse won Halloween with the Otto helmet and all orange, and won the game on the last drive. Oklahoma State and Iowa State gave us the best matchup of the night, orange against black, and a 51-49 finish on the last kick. Louisville, Navy and UCF wore good uniforms that had nothing to do with the holiday. Every look from the weekend is in the Week 9 guide, and the other side of the holiday is the 5 worst Halloween jerseys ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the best college football Halloween uniform in 2026?
Syracuse's first-ever Otto helmet, worn with an orange jersey and orange pants against No. 19 SMU on October 31. Syracuse won 30-27. We graded it an A.
What did Syracuse wear on Halloween?
A white helmet with a cartoon Otto the Orange decal and a navy and orange stripe, the first time Otto has been on the Syracuse helmet, with an orange jersey and orange pants.
What did Oklahoma State wear against Iowa State?
All orange: an orange helmet, orange jersey and orange pants, with skeleton-print cleats. Iowa State wore all black. Iowa State won 51-49 on a field goal as time expired. We graded Oklahoma State's look an A-.
What did Nebraska wear against Washington?
The black alternate: a black helmet with a metallic red Huskers script, a black jersey and black pants. Washington wore white and won 17-10. We graded it a B-.
Which Halloween uniforms were the worst?
Louisville's For The Ville set (a C), Navy's 1926 throwback and UCF's Space Game set (both C+). All three are good uniforms with a story behind them, but none of them looks like Halloween.
Did Navy wear its 1926 throwback against Notre Dame?
Yes. Navy wore the 1926 centennial uniform, a gold helmet, a navy jersey with nine gold chevrons and gold pants, at Gillette Stadium. Notre Dame won 35-13.
