Ranking all 18 Big Ten football uniforms from worst to first

USA Today

4 hours ago

Ranking all 18 Big Ten football uniforms from worst to first
While the class of 2026 recruiting cycle is producing plenty of headlines, there still aren't any new 2025 football season updates to talk about.
We've already unveiled our Big Ten power rankings for the upcoming campaign, as well as a hierarchy of the conference's starting quarterbacks. The leading teams and signal-callers shouldn't come as much of a surprise -- reigning national champion Ohio State again projects as the conference's best, with Penn State and Heisman Trophy candidate Drew Allar not far behind. Michigan, Oregon and breakthrough candidate Illinois all sit in the next tier, needing several things to fall their way for them to contend for the Big Ten title.
The conference will look to bolster its argument as college football's best in 2025. While the SEC still holds the crown, the Big Ten's stellar postseason record and head-to-head success over its southern rival last season have narrowed the gap. 2025 will either see progress continue or the SEC return to dominance.
That is all an on-field look at the upcoming season. Until training camps begin and we learn more about each team, off-the-field topics may have to lead the discussion.
We began that initiative by ranking the Big Ten's 18 helmets from worst to first this week. Now, we're applying the same lens to the conference's 18 uniforms.
18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Helmet ranking: No. 18
Neither Rutgers' helmet nor uniform jumps off the page. The conference doesn't have any outright 'bad' uniform combos -- this slot isn't that. Instead, it portrays a nondescript red and white combo that can be found at multiple programs across the country.
17. Indiana Hoosiers
Helmet ranking: No. 10
Indiana has a strong helmet, relative to the rest of its uniform. The shade of red at least differs from others in the conference. Otherwise, Indiana's uniforms aren't memorable. This standing will be open to change if Curt Cignetti continues to lead a program resurgence. Nebraska's nondescript jersey, for example, ranks well, partially due to the program's history.
16. Northwestern Wildcats
Helmet ranking: No. 12
Northwestern has the benefit of a unique colorway and a solid helmet. Otherwise, the program's typical uniform isn't overly unique or interesting. The team's new all-black alternate uniform (below) hurts the ranking. Sometimes, 'new' doesn't always mean 'good.'
15. Maryland Terrapins
Helmet ranking: No. 11
Maryland's jerseys have good touches, such as the texture on the number and colored strips on the shoulders. The uniform's overall look improved when the team went to the 'Terps' helmets full-time over the old design with the Maryland flag across the crown.
14. Purdue Boilermakers
Helmet ranking: No. 15
Purdue's black and gold combination is a plus. While the uniform itself doesn't add much flair or intrigue, the unique colorway differentiates it from others in the sport. The aesthetics of peak Jeff Brohm Purdue, when the team was known as the 'Spoilermakers,' playing a night game at home were terrific.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini
Helmet ranking: No. 17
It's challenging to make orange look good on a football uniform. Illinois has done it, at least in part. The team would do well to keep its classic look as much as possible, avoiding a return to what it wore for the Michigan game last season (below). That alternate uniform would rank as the worst in the sport, regardless of level.
12. Washington Huskies
Helmet ranking: No. 14
Separately, Washington's uniform and helmet leave a lot to be desired, especially the purple and gold home kit. But the combination of the two works well. The purple 'W' matches well with the uniform top, as does the gold chrome with the bottom. Possibly the program's best combination was its all-white jersey and gold helmet against Michigan in the 2023 national title game.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Helmet ranking: No. 13
Nebraska has one of the most basic uniforms in the sport. But since the aesthetic can still be tied to the program's 1990s dynasty, it has to be considered a 'classic' uniform. If Nebraska didn't exist before it joined the Big Ten in 2011, its jersey would rank down near Rutgers.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Helmet ranking: No. 16
Minnesota's jerseys are among the more underrated in the conference. However, I'd argue the helmet hurts this ranking. A similar colorway with a smaller, more creative 'M' and less flash would better complement the rest of the kit. Maroon and gold is a strong color combination, so it would've been hard to build a bad uniform.
9. Oregon Ducks
Helmet ranking: No. 7
One could argue that Oregon has four or five uniform combinations worthy of a top spot on this list. That person wouldn't be entirely incorrect. The question is, if a team wears a different uniform every week, does it even have one? I'd rather a team find a simple, consistent week-to-week look than release a new headline-grabbing kit every Friday afternoon.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
8. Ohio State Buckeyes
Helmet ranking: No. 2
Ohio State's jerseys are a classic, thanks to the program's dominance over the last 50 years. The helmet is what defines the look. The Buckeyes' uniform combination itself is somewhat simple. Again, don't confuse this ranking for 'bad.' It just isn't one of the best seven uniform kits in the conference.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
7. Michigan State Spartans
Helmet ranking: No. 5
Michigan State has mastered its green and white colorway, adding several unique Spartan touches. The program's full green, full white and green-on-white combinations are terrific. The only alternate uniform that should be eliminated is the neon green. Like with many other programs, diverting from the classic look is often a bad thing.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
6. USC Trojans
Helmet ranking: No. 6
USC's uniforms are a college football classic, both in the colorway and the Trojan logo. The program's brand recognition helps its standing -- these uniforms are synonymous with some of college football's greatest moments.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
5. UCLA Bruins
Helmet ranking: No. 4
It's hard to find a better uniform than UCLA's white-on-gold. It includes the perfect amount of blue accent, creating a rare three-color look. The other blue-on-gold look isn't too bad itself.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
Helmet ranking: No. 9
Penn State's uniforms fall under the 'classic' category. It is one of the rare uniforms where a non-college football fan can turn on the television, not see the scoreboard and know exactly who is playing. And unlike Oregon, it achieves that reality without eight different alternates with seven different colors.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
3. Wisconsin Badgers
Helmet ranking: No. 8
Perhaps this ranking is biased. But few Big Ten uniforms are as classic as Wisconsin's red-on-white with the 'Motion W' on each side of the helmet. It isn't overly complicated and has a consistent look both at home and on the road. Until the end of the Paul Chryst era, you knew exactly what to expect when these uniforms popped onto the television screen.
2. Michigan Wolverines
Helmet ranking: No. 1
Michigan has perfected the modern twist on a classic uniform. Every one of its color combinations works, including its blue-on-yellow, white-on-white and blue-on-blue. Just like with Wisconsin (until 2023), Penn State and others, any non-Big Ten fan knows exactly what to expect when Michigan's uniforms appear on television.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
1. Iowa Hawkeyes
Helmet ranking: No. 3
Few college football aesthetics are better than Iowa in a night game at Kinnick Stadium wearing all black. Like Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin, Iowa has a simple, classic uniform combination with a terrific color scheme and a clear identity. Now, all the program needs is a passing game.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion