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The best and worst college football uniforms from Week 7.
Week 7 of the 2026 college football season was maybe the best yet. Upsets took centerstage with five of the top seven teams in the AP Poll losing. We have a new No. 1 at the top of the standings.
The uniform combinations didn’t disappoint, either. We saw a few never-before-seen looks, as well as classic throwbacks and alternative designs.
This is a series we’ve put out since the start of the college football season. The two atop this week’s list might be my favorites yet.
The 6 best college football uniform combos of Week 7.
I found six designs that stood out from an action-packed slate. I’ll also list my two least favorite threads from the week to pass.
This week’s rankings contain all FBS programs, with the majority hailing from the Power 4 conferences. Let’s start in the ACC with the best of the best.
Cal Bears
Cal leads the way on this week’s list with a Grateful Dead inspired look. The helmets featured a lightning bolt center stripe to go with the script “Cal” on the sides written inside a skull decal.
The jerseys and pants remained the same, with the Bears rocking the classic blue and gold. Still, the helmets were more than enough to push these combos to the front.
It’s a similar look to what we saw Oregon wear last year. The Ducks also implemented the theme into their basketball uniforms. Maybe Cal will do the same.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
The Chants come in at a close second with these 90s themed college football getups. They broke them out for a Friday night rivalry game vs. App State.
The jerseys featured the Coastal Carolina teal with accents of pink and yellow. Interestingly enough, the throwbacks actually preceded the program.
The Chanticleers only started playing football in 2003. There was no team in the 1990s. That didn’t stop players from partying like it’s 1999.
Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans brought the “Gruff Sparty” logo back to the helmets for its Week 7 matchup vs. Northwestern. Those lids were part of a green-out.
While the program wore green, it also asked fans to wear white creating an awesome contrast in Spartan Stadium.
The game, unfortunately, ended with a last-second loss to Pat Fitzgerald’s old team. Still, it takes nothing away from these incredible fits.
Pitt Panthers
Pitt made my list last week with throwback uniforms honoring the 1976 national championship team. This week, they flipped the script.
The Panthers wore icy whites vs. Boston College on the road. Helmets had the Pitt script in blue with a yellow outline. The jersey numbering and lettering mirrored that design. They were clean.
Unfortunately, the Panthers fell to the Golden Eagles on the field. They still picked up a win in my book.
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats broke out an alternative look for a road matchup vs. West Virginia. They featured cherry red domes and pants with white jerseys.
On the helmet was the classic “C-paw” logo. The jersey and pant striping was minimal, allowing the colors to shine.
Like many on this list, the uniform designs did not help the team squeak out a win. Cincy fell to West Virginia, 45-42.
UTEP Miners
UTEP went will all-navy uniforms with a throwback feel for a Week 7 contest against San Jose State. On the lids were a retro Miner logo. They also featured mining axes across the back.
The jerseys and pants were somewhat typical, though the color rush was one of my favorite looks of the weekend. Blue and orange just works.
UTEP did not play as good as they looked, falling 24-11 to the Spartans.
The 2 worst college football uniforms combos of Week 7.
As always, with the good comes the bad. These were my least favorite uniform designs of the weekend.
Clemson Tigers
As a Gamecock, feel free to call me biased, but this is and has always been my least favorite look in college football. The all-purple is too much.
The Tigers went with purple jerseys and pants that triggered memories of Grimace. Rather than complete the combination with purple helmets, Clemson wore orange up top.
The theme was in support of Military Appreciation, which I can respect. Maybe they can try a camo look next time around. For me, these just clash. I know there are many others that might disagree.
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky made my list of best uniforms in Week 7 with throwbacks to the “Power K” logo. This week, they wind up on the other end.
The Wildcats went with a semi-black out for a road matchup vs. Oklahoma. Nothing really went to together.
The helmets were black with the blue “UK” decal, which I did love. They also donned black pants. It made the white jerseys seem out of sorts. They didn’t fit the rest of the combo.
It didn’t matter on the field. Kentucky improved to 6-1 with a win over the Sooners.