This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/matte_purple on 2024-09-19 16:42:29+00:00.
Hello! Welcome to the 2024 Big XII Uniform Tracker in Week 3! Sorry for the lateness of the tracker this week. We’ve got some great games, close losses, and baffling comebacks, all being paired up with some good-looking uniforms! Two Script Cats helmets, blackouts galore, and some rivalries before a whole week of Big 12 conference matchups! In case you are unfamiliar with how my tracker works, I catalog all 16 Big 12 team’s uniform combinations week-to-week, and also look at the opposition’s threads. I provide a few of my thoughts on the game, the uniforms, and a brief history of the rivalry and/or fun facts. It’s the last week of the non-conference schedule and we have some very interesting teams to review, so let’s get to it!
I’m u/matte_purple, and let’s 3,2,1 go!
Arizona State University Sun Devils at Texas State University Bobcats (ASU Wins, 31-28)
ASU: Yellow/White/Yellow (Link: )
TXST: Gold/Black/Black (Link: )
This was a great way to kick off Big 12 ball for the weekend. And I’ve just got to say it, Arizona State is one of the bigger Big 12 surprises through Week 3. The Sun Devils are 3-0 for the first time since 2019, and they got their against a very salty Texas State team in San Marcos, in a blackout game - one of the tougher environments in the Sun Belt. The Bobcats had more total yards, more 1st downs, and contained ASU’s big weapon - RB Cam Skattebo - to just 62 yds. But a huge 52-yd TD pass by Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt to Sun Devil Jordan Tyson and a perfectly timed fumble recovery led to the game winning FG. There was a non-televised final make-or-break play from Texas State, but the same result remained: a wildly different and fun ASU team at 3 wins.
Hell yes! This was one of my most anticipated uniform matchups when I discovered ASU was joining the conference. I’ve always had a bit of a crush on both Texas State’s and the Sun Devil’s color schemes. And this was a dream uniform matchup indeed. Texas State broke out a new alternate helmet with their “Script Cats” on it, which also features a black center stripe bordered by maroon. It’s an awesome look. Adding it to some very nice blackout threads for a big game (which are worn about once a year) was a perfect choice. Maroon, black, and gold all work EXTREMELY well together. Arizona State responded with a yellow-forward away look which I love. While the helmet is different from the similar combo we saw in Week 10 of 2023, I like the maroon pitchfork and facemask here, which helps to preserve the identity of the team when the name on the chest is removed. I do wish there were a few more obvious AZ flags, wordmarks (like last week’s “Arizona State” on the chest) on the look, but I really can’t complain when they let their color scheme run free. Excited to see the look next week for Los Diablos del Sol!
Kansas State University Wildcats vs University of Arizona Wildcats (K-State Wins, 31-7)
K-State: Silver/Purple/Silver (Link: )
Arizona: Red/White/Red (Link: )
The double Wildcat duel on a Friday. Friday the 13th, in fact. Which is likely why the game felt bizarro just about the whole time. It wasn’t an “official” conference matchup due to scheduling prior to the PAC-12 breakdown, but K-State played like it was. QB Avery Johnson was a jack of all trades, rushing for 110 yds, throwing for 156 yds and two TDs, while RB Dylan Edwards took a punt 71 yds to the house. Add on an errant throw into double coverage from QB Noah Fifita, resulting in an INT, and a ton of penalties for Arizona, and you get an end to AZ’s nine-game win streak, the longest active streak in the FBS.
Round of applause to Arizona! Despite having a rough performance, I think their uniforms are some of my favorites of the week! Last year, in Week 7 versus Washington State, I said: “I’m kind of in the mood for a different helmet at some point. When will they throw the script “Cats” logo on a [helmet] shell?” So was I the impetus behind the change? Some are saying yes! Regardless of who thought it up, these look IMMACULATE. And when paired with the symmetry of the red pants? Gorgeous. This is the first time Arizona has worn this much red (W/R/W last week) in consecutive games since 2019, in a stretch of games at Colorado and vs Washington.
Obviously, K-State stuck to their guns. While I was really hoping the purple Cats would break out their “Script Cats” helmet worn in 2019 to match Arizona, I can’t really fault the decision to go traditional. Plus, the game last week against Tulane reinforced the idea to many that K-State alternates are cursed, beating the Green Wave in their regular suits. Safe to say the current staff likes the traditional look, as do I.
University of Kansas Jayhawks vs University of Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels (UNLV Wins, 23-20)
KU: Black/Black/Black (Link: )
UNLV: Gray/Gray/Gray (Link: )
UNLV came into this fight ready to avenge their loss in the penalty-rich Guaranteed Rate Bowl from last year. And boy howdy, did they find a wild way to do it. UNLV had to play catch-up until the final drive of the game, a steamroller drive consisting of 18 consecutive rushing plays to put the Rebels ahead. It doesn’t help that much-hyped QB Jalon Daniels has now the second-most INTs thrown by any QB in any FBS conference at six, gifting UNLV two. UNLV is now gunning for the G5 playoff spot at 3-0, while a 1-2 Kansas hopes to find a victory in Morgantown against an angry Mountaineer team.
On the bright side - so to speak - Kansas broke out their second alternate look in 3 games with their “BlackHawk” suits. These were worn twice last year (against Illinois and Kansas State), and I have loved them all three times we’ve seen them now. I am normally very critical of “Black for Black’s Sake” uniforms (where teams just use black because it’s a cool thematic color and a good base, not for school reasons). But I’ve got to say, these have that particular red/blue striping, a KU game-day flag on the back collar, the same colors in the chest and back numbers in many Jayhawks’ favorite “Circus Font”, the bold KANSAS wordmark also in the same font, the blue facemask, of course the Warhawk logo from 1941. While I think the full body Warhawk may have looked better here, it doesn’t change the fact this suit is chock full of school references that the other “blackout” uniforms simply don’t have. Very well done.
I know a couple friends of mine scoffed at the Rebel’s choice of attire, as gray usually doesn’t contrast against black. But I think the shade here is perfect for a non-traditional pairing. Lots of schools are trying to get more “out there” with their choices, and this is an easy way to garner intrigue. Maybe I’m just a sucker for lighter shaded gray combos, but I think this one is really great. The red pops beautifully, and the striping is pretty standard, but still classy. And it definitely helps when you go and win a big non-con game in them! Have a cocktail back home during the bye week, okay Rebels?
Oklahoma State Cowboys at University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (OSU Wins, 45-10)
OSU: White/White/Orange (Link: )
Tulsa: Gold/Blue/Gold (Link: )
An absolute walloping for Tulsa. QB Alan Bowman matched a career high with five TD passes to 4 different receivers and 396 total yds. Ollie Gordon only rushed for 41 yds, but WR De’Zhaun Stribling stepped up, with 174 yds, 2 TDs on 7 carries. SEVEN CARRIES. 24.9 yds per carry! The incredible aerial assault cowed the Golden Hurricanes and set up next week’s Big 12 showdown against a highly ranked Utah.
OK-State’s White/White/Orange combo has now been worn once a year in the time I’ve been tracking (starting in 2022), and they did something here that made me pause. Instead of matching up their uniform font color - OSU has two away jerseys, one with black font and the other with orange - with the pants, they instead matched it up with the Cursive Cowboy logo on the helmet, Black with an Orange border. Would the orange font have done better here?Maybe. But this look just has such a weird intrigue about it. Plus, the Cursive Cowboys look is pretty damn nice. One of my favorite away combos from OK-State!
Tulsa actually revealed new 2024 uniforms before their season started! And they look way better than the last rendition, notably removing the “Golden Hurricane” wordmark running down the legs and adding some shoulder stripes. While the shoulder stripes are starting to feel less and less unique for teams, I still love it. And these look far better than their old look. I’ll say one thing about Tulsa: they got the gold usage right. You see so many teams move from gold to yellow, and it can really tear an identity apart. The Tulsa crew kept with it, and I love it. The traditional script “Tulsa” logo is clean, the blue is striking against the gold, and the Red Flag logo is amazing. It’s nice to see that on the pants and on the field.
Baylor University Bears vs Air Force Academy Falcons (BU Wins, 31-3)
BU: Black/Black/Black (Link: