This Saturday, Navy wears a 1926 throwback against Notre Dame. Last Saturday, UCLA wore its 1954 powder blue and Miami wore its 2001 Tribute. College football has more throwbacks in the closet than ever. So here's the question: what if every program threw out its current uniform and wore its throwback every week?
We went through 28 of the biggest programs in the sport, the ones fans search for every Saturday. For each one: the throwback it has actually worn in recent seasons, what it wears now, and our verdict. Better, worse, no real change, or nothing to throw back to.
This is a hypothetical. No school has announced a full-time switch. The verdicts are our opinions. The uniforms, dates and details are checked against the teams' own posts and our college uniform schedules.
Quick Answers
- Better full time: UCLA (1954 powder blue), Florida (1960s blue helmet), Arizona State (Roses & Devils), Missouri (1970s black and gold), Kentucky (Power K), North Carolina (1980), Michigan State (1998 helmet), Washington (1991).
- Already did it: Ohio State. Its 2026 home and road uniforms carry the Heritage stripe it used to save for the playoffs.
- No real change: Miami, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Notre Dame.
- Worse full time: Oregon, Tennessee, LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Navy.
- Nothing to throw back to: Alabama, Penn State, Texas, Michigan, Auburn, Syracuse, Florida State, Clemson.
- Hottest take on this list: Oregon's 1994 throwback is great for one night, and wearing it every week would kill the one thing that makes Oregon Oregon.
Why College Throwbacks Are Different
In the NFL, the league caps how many alternate and throwback games a team gets. College football has no such cap. Schools build throwbacks around anniversaries: Navy's 1926 title team, Miami's 2001 champions, Florida's Spurrier Heisman season, Missouri's 100-year-old stadium. Some programs wear one every year. Some have not changed their look in decades, so there is nothing to throw back to.
That's the split this list comes down to. A throwback wins when it's brighter or cleaner than what the team wears now. It loses when the current look is already the iconic one. We did the same exercise for the pros in what if every NFL team wore its throwback full time, and we ranked the throwbacks themselves in the best throwback uniforms in sports right now.
Better Full Time
UCLA: 1954 Powder Blue. Better.
The throwback: a lighter powder blue jersey with white shoulder stripes and white numbers, the metallic gold helmet and gold pants, honoring UCLA's 1954 national champions. UCLA wore it at homecoming against Colorado in 2023, against Maryland in 2025, and again last Saturday against Michigan State.
Now: the powder blue jersey with the gold shoulder loop, under the same gold helmet.
Verdict: better, and it's the easiest call on the list. The difference is small on paper: white shoulder stripes in place of gold. On the field, the throwback is the most beautiful uniform in college football. We've said it every year. It should be the home uniform. UCLA 2026 uniform schedule
Florida: Spurrier 1960s Throwback. Better.
via Florida Gators Football
The throwback: a royal blue helmet with an orange and white center stripe and the block F inside a white oval, a white jersey with blue-orange-blue shoulder stripes, and white pants. Florida built it for the 60th anniversary of Steve Spurrier's 1966 Heisman season and wore it on October 10 against South Carolina.
Now: an orange helmet as the base with the modern Gators script, blue reserved for home games in The Swamp.
Verdict: better. The oval F helmet is the best helmet Florida owns, and it's not close. We'll repeat our one complaint from our full review: the oval F doesn't show up until 1967, so it's a 1960s throwback, not a 1966 one. Doesn't matter here. Wear it every week. Florida 2026 uniform schedule
Arizona State: Roses & Devils. Better.
The throwback: the 1986 look Arizona State wore to beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day 1987, back for the 40th anniversary. A gold helmet with the full-body Sparky, a maroon jersey with ARIZONA STATE in white block letters across the chest, and gold pants with a maroon and white stripe. Revealed in August. No game date has been announced.
Now: a mix-and-match closet. Gold, maroon, white and black helmets, the pitchfork or Sparky on the side, three jersey colors, all chosen separately each week.
Verdict: better. Arizona State changes its look every Saturday, and none of it is as good as one set from 1986. Full-body Sparky on a gold helmet is a top-five college football helmet. Pick it and keep it. Roses & Devils, graded · Arizona State 2026 uniform schedule
Missouri: 1970s Memorial Stadium Throwback. Better.
The throwback: built for Memorial Stadium's 100th birthday. A black helmet with the block M and a gold and white center stripe, a black jersey with matching gold and white shoulder stripes and no wordmark on the chest, and all-gold pants. It debuted September 19 against Troy.
Now: Missouri's regular sets put a wordmark on the chest.
Verdict: better. The whole uniform works because of what it leaves off. No wordmark, just numbers and stripes, and the gold pants turn a black jersey into a classic instead of a blackout. It's the most restrained thing Missouri has worn in years, and the best. Missouri 2026 uniform schedule
Kentucky: Power K. Better.
Photos: Kentucky Football.
The throwback: the look Kentucky wore from 1975 to 1991. A white helmet with a triple stripe down the middle, the Power K on both sides and CATS above the facemask, a plain blue jersey with CATS on the shoulders and stripes on the sleeves, and white pants. Kentucky wore it on October 10 against LSU.
Now: a rotation of blue, white, gray and black, with the interlocking UK on the helmet.
Verdict: better. The Power K is the best logo Kentucky football has ever had, and the triple stripe is the kind of helmet detail most programs dropped decades ago. The jersey is about as plain as a modern uniform gets. That's the point. Kentucky 2026 uniform schedule
North Carolina: 1980 Throwback. Better.
The throwback: a powder blue helmet with the stairstep UNC, a powder blue jersey with "Carolina" across the chest, and white pants. Carolina debuted it on September 12 and wore it again against Notre Dame on October 3.
Now: the Jordan Brand sets in Carolina blue and white, with the interlocking NC.
Verdict: better. Carolina blue head to toe is the most North Carolina thing a uniform can be, and the stairstep UNC on the helmet is a better mark than the interlocking NC. North Carolina 2026 uniform schedule
Michigan State: 1998 Helmet. Better.
The throwback: against Ohio State on October 8, 2022, Michigan State wore a 1998 throwback helmet, a nod to the Spartans' upset in Columbus that year: green with the primary Spartan logo, white center stripes and a white facemask, Sports Illustrated reported. It went with the standard green jersey and white pants.
Now: the green Spartan helmet.
Verdict: better. It's only a helmet, and it's still an upgrade. The white stripes and white facemask give the green shell a frame. Michigan State 2026 uniform schedule
Washington: 1991 National Championship. Better.
The throwback: for the 30th anniversary of the 1991 national champions, Washington wore the "panting dawg" logo on the helmet in place of the block W, a purple jersey with block numbers and two white sleeve stripes, and brighter gold pants. It was the Homecoming game against UCLA on October 16, 2021. We don't have a team image of it to show here.
Now: purple and white with the block W, with more gold added to the set in 2025.
Verdict: better. The 1991 team is the best in school history, and that uniform is cleaner than anything Washington has worn since. Washington 2026 uniform schedule
Already Did It
Ohio State: Heritage Stripes. It Happened.
The throwback: the Heritage stripe uniforms, a tribute to the 1968 national champions, with modified Northwestern stripes on the sleeves. Ohio State saved them for big games, including the national championship game against Notre Dame on January 20, 2025, in the white road version with the silver helmet and silver pants.
Now: this is the one program that actually went ahead with it. In May, Ohio State revealed new home and road uniforms with the stripe back on the sleeve, now called the Buckeye Stripe, in metallic silver to match the helmet.
Verdict: the right call. The striped sleeve was always the best version of Ohio State. Now it's the uniform. Ohio State 2026 uniform schedule
No Real Change
Miami: 2001 Tribute. Push.
The throwback: 25 years after the 2001 national champions. A white helmet with the orange and green U and an orange center stripe trimmed in green, an orange jersey with white numbers trimmed in green, and white pants with a green and orange side stripe. Miami wore it last Saturday against Pitt. There's also a white road version with green pants that hasn't been worn.
Now: the same white helmet with the U, with orange, white and green jerseys.
Verdict: push. It's a great uniform because Miami's uniform is already great. Switching full time changes the striping, not the look. The one piece we'd keep is the green pants on the road. Miami's 2001 throwbacks, graded · Miami 2026 uniform schedule
Georgia: 1980 Road. Push.
The throwback: for the 40th anniversary of the 1980 national champions, Georgia's road throwback had a white jersey with Northwestern sleeve stripes and traditional block numbers over red pants with a white stripe between two black stripes. It was set for the trip to Arkansas on September 26, 2020. The same post revealed a black alternate.
Now: the red helmet with the oval G, and silver britches with red or white jerseys.
Verdict: push. Red pants on the road are fun once. Outside this year's white helmet game, Georgia's look barely moves under Kirby Smart, and the silver britches are the right call every week. Georgia 2026 uniform schedule
Nebraska: Memorial Stadium 100th. Push.
The throwback: for Memorial Stadium's 100th anniversary in 2023, Nebraska wore a scarlet jersey with white numbers outlined in blue, because Nebraska wore blue in the stadium's first game in 1923. The shoulder stripes carry the inscriptions from the stadium walls. Standard white helmet with the red N. It was worn against Northwestern in October 2023, KLIN reported.
Now: scarlet at home, white on the road, the white helmet with the Block N. Nebraska debuts a black alternate against Washington this Saturday.
Verdict: push. Blue-trimmed numbers are a nice history lesson. Everything else is the Nebraska uniform you already know. Nebraska 2026 uniform schedule
Texas A&M: 1975 Throwback. Push.
The throwback: honoring the 1975 Southwest Conference co-champions, worn against Florida at Kyle Field on October 11, 2025, Texas A&M announced. The maroon jersey has white numbers, white shoulder stripes and the vintage adidas Trefoil.
Now: maroon or white under the white helmet.
Verdict: push. The shoulder stripes are a small upgrade. A&M's look has been maroon and white forever, and this is maroon and white. Texas A&M 2026 uniform schedule
Notre Dame: Lambeau Shamrock Series. Push.
The closest thing to a throwback: the 2026 Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin on September 6. Deep navy jerseys with Packers-style sleeve stripes, the gold helmet and gold block numbers. It's a tribute to the Green Bay Packers' roots, not to an old Notre Dame uniform.
Now: gold helmet, navy at home, white on the road, gold pants.
Verdict: push. Notre Dame's uniform is already a throwback. There's no older version to go back to that would look different. Notre Dame 2026 uniform schedule
Worse Full Time
Oregon: 1994 Throwback. Worse.
The throwback: the 1994 "Pick" uniform, with green and yellow uniforms, yellow helmets and the old-school University of Oregon logo, Sports Illustrated reported. Oregon wore it against Washington State in 2023.
Now: a different combination almost every week. This Saturday it's a matte black helmet with white wings, a black jersey and white pants against Northwestern.
Verdict: worse, and this is the one Oregon fans will love and still be wrong about. The 1994 set is great for one night. But Oregon's identity is the rotation. The reason people tune in to see what the Ducks are wearing is that nobody knows. Lock it into one uniform, even a good one, and Oregon becomes just another green team. Oregon 2026 uniform schedule
Tennessee: Neyland Legacy Smokey Grey. Worse.
The throwback: this year's Smokey Grey honors 100 years since General Robert Neyland's first season. Neyland's signature on the back bumper, a white star on the grey shell, the vintage interlocking UT on the collar and sleeves, orange numbers with a white outline, and cream pants. It debuted October 3 against Auburn.
Now: the white helmet with the orange Power T, orange at Neyland Stadium, white on the road.
Verdict: worse. It's the best Smokey Grey Tennessee has made, and we still don't want it every week. Tennessee is orange. Trading orange for grey full time would take away the one color every college football fan knows on sight. Tennessee 2026 uniform schedule
LSU: 1997 White, Gold, White. Worse.
The throwback: against Vanderbilt on November 23, 2024, LSU wore a white helmet, a gold jersey and white pants, which the team called "an update to the combination we wore in 1997."
Now: the gold helmet, purple at home, white on the road, gold pants.
Verdict: worse. Gold jerseys under a white helmet looked fine for a night. LSU in purple and gold with the gold helmet is one of the best-known uniforms in the sport. Don't touch it. LSU 2026 uniform schedule
USC: 1972 Shoulder Stripes. Worse.
The throwback: for Homecoming against Nebraska on November 16, 2024, USC wore 1972-style jerseys with three shoulder stripes in place of shoulder numbers, honoring the 1972 national champions, Sports Illustrated reported.
Now: the cardinal helmet with the gold Trojan head, cardinal jersey with numbers on the shoulders, gold pants.
Verdict: worse. The shoulder numbers are the most USC detail on the most USC uniform. The stripes are nice. The numbers are the identity. USC 2026 uniform schedule
Oklahoma: Bud Wilkinson Throwback. Worse.
The throwback: the Sooners' look from 1946 to 1956, the Bud Wilkinson era. A plain white helmet with a single crimson stripe and no logo, a crimson jersey with white numbers and striped sleeves, and white pants. Oklahoma wore it against Kentucky on October 17. It's in our Oklahoma uniform schedule with every detail.
Now: the crimson helmet with the OU logo, crimson at home, white on the road.
Verdict: worse. A logo-free white helmet is a great history lesson and the wrong everyday look for Oklahoma. The crimson OU helmet is the brand. Losing it every week would be like USC losing the Trojan head.
Navy: 1926 Centennial. Worse.
Image: Navy Athletics and Under Armour
The throwback: honoring the 1926 national champions, the only national title in program history. A navy jersey with gold chevron stripes, nine of them, one for each win in 1926, over gold pants and the plain gold helmet. Navy wears it Saturday against Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium.
Now: navy and gold at home, white on the road, the gold helmet every week.
Verdict: worse. The nine stripes are a great idea for one game. Every week, the chevrons are busy. Navy's regular set is one of the cleanest in the sport, and the program saves its creativity for the Army-Navy Game, which is how it should be. Our grade of the 1926 uniform · Navy 2026 uniform schedule
Nothing to Throw Back To
These programs either haven't worn a real throwback in recent seasons, or their current look already is the throwback.
- Alabama. The crimson jersey, white pants and crimson helmet with the player's number have barely changed in fifty years. No throwback weeks. Alabama 2026 uniform schedule
- Penn State. The closest thing is the helmet numbers, which Penn State wore in the late 1950s and early 1960s and from 1967 to 1974, and brought back on its Generations of Greatness alternates between 2017 and 2021. The plain white helmet has been the look since 1975. Penn State 2026 uniform schedule
- Texas. Two looks all season: burnt orange at home, white on the road. No throwback week. Texas 2026 uniform schedule
- Michigan. The winged helmet and maize and blue are the throwback. We couldn't find an officially billed Michigan throwback in recent seasons. Michigan 2026 uniform schedule
- Auburn. When Auburn moved to Nike in 2025, fans joked that the new uniforms were the old ones with a different logo. They mostly were. Auburn 2026 uniform schedule
- Syracuse. The 2019 redesign already went retro: block numbers and sleeve stripes that call back to the Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka era. Syracuse 2026 uniform schedule
- Florida State. No throwback has been announced for 2026. The turquoise Seminole Heritage set is a heritage uniform, not a throwback, and it's set for NC State on November 21. Florida State 2026 uniform schedule
- Clemson. The purple jerseys Clemson wore at Georgia Tech in 2025 came out of the vault, but the team didn't call them a throwback. The current set was inspired by the 1981 champions to begin with. Clemson 2026 uniform schedule
The Scoreboard
| Verdict | Programs | |---|---| | Better | UCLA, Florida, Arizona State, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan State, Washington | | Already did it | Ohio State | | No real change | Miami, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Notre Dame | | Worse | Oregon, Tennessee, LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Navy | | Nothing to throw back to | Alabama, Penn State, Texas, Michigan, Auburn, Syracuse, Florida State, Clemson |
Biggest winners: UCLA, Florida and Arizona State. Each one has a throwback that is plainly better than what it wears now, and each one wears it once a year at most.
Biggest losers: Oregon and Tennessee. Both have throwbacks that are great as events and would take away the thing that makes the program recognizable, Oregon's weekly surprise and Tennessee's orange.
The Pattern
The throwbacks that win swap a busy modern look for something simpler: white stripes for gold on UCLA, the oval F for a script, numbers with no wordmark at Missouri. The throwbacks that lose would replace a look that's already the most recognizable thing about the program. Nobody needs Tennessee in grey every week.
That's 28. Which one did we get wrong? Oregon fans, we're waiting.
See every look this weekend in our college football Week 9 uniform guide, and next week's in the Week 10 uniform guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which college football teams wore throwbacks in 2026?
Among them: UCLA (1954 powder blue), Miami (2001 Tribute), Florida (Spurrier 1960s), Missouri (1970s Memorial Stadium), Kentucky (Power K), North Carolina (1980), Oklahoma (Bud Wilkinson), Cal (Joe Roth) and Navy (1926, this Saturday). Arizona State's Roses & Devils set still has no date.
What is the best throwback in college football?
Our pick is UCLA's 1954 powder blue. Florida's oval F helmet and Arizona State's Roses & Devils are next. Our full ranking is in the best throwback uniforms in sports right now.
Is any college football team switching to its throwback full time?
Ohio State came closest. Its 2026 home and road uniforms use the Buckeye Stripe on the sleeve, the stripe it used to save for its Heritage throwbacks. No other program has announced a full-time switch.
When does Navy wear its 1926 throwback?
Saturday, October 31, against Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium. The jersey has nine gold chevron stripes, one for each win by the 1926 national champions.
When did Miami wear its 2001 throwback?
October 24 against Pitt: white helmet, orange throwback jersey and white throwback pants. The white road version with green pants hasn't been worn yet.
When did Florida wear the Spurrier throwback?
October 10 against South Carolina, with the blue oval F helmet, white jersey and white pants.
What was Kentucky's Power K throwback?
The look Kentucky wore from 1975 to 1991: a white helmet with a triple stripe and the Power K, a blue jersey with CATS on the shoulders, and white pants. Kentucky wore it against LSU on October 10.
Has Alabama ever worn a throwback?
Not that we could find in recent seasons. Alabama's crimson jersey, white pants and crimson helmet with the player's number have barely changed in fifty years. There are no throwback weeks on its schedule.
Does Penn State have a throwback uniform?
Penn State's closest thing to a throwback was the helmet numbers on its Generations of Greatness alternates from 2017 to 2021. Nothing like that has been announced for 2026.
When will Arizona State wear the Roses & Devils throwback?
Arizona State hasn't announced a date. The November 21 homecoming game against Oklahoma State is our guess, not an announcement.
What throwback did Ohio State wear in the national championship?
The white road version of its Heritage stripe uniform, with a silver helmet and silver pants, against Notre Dame on January 20, 2025.
Why do college teams wear so many more throwbacks than NFL teams?
The NFL caps how many alternate and throwback games each team gets. College football has no such limit, so schools tie throwbacks to anniversaries whenever they want.
Uniform history via the teams, Sports Illustrated, KLIN and Texas A&M Athletics, and our college uniform schedules. Images are the teams' own posts and releases. Cover images via Missouri, Florida and Kentucky Football.
