College Football Uniform Watch for Week 6

Rich Barnes-US PRESSWIRE

After Week 5’s Wisconsin-at-Nebraska game that featured an alarmingly huge handwritten “W” or “N” on the chests of the competitors, you have to wonder what’s next in college-football couture.

Indeed, if you can totally delete the customary jersey numbers and mix up the colors and helmets, what else is fair game?

While it’s true that nobody really cares what teams are wearing, all bets are off if you either can’t tell which teams are playing or if the uniform in question is so grossly offensive that it is impossible not to comment.

The following slideshow highlights a couple of “one-and-done” special-uniform offerings for Week 6, as well as a few more subtle fashion alterations to be on alert for in Saturday’s slew of games.

In doing so, this full-color presentation serves as a beacon of light intended to gently guide the viewer into yet another weekend of football vogue.

Duke

Duke's 2012 Kit in All-White
Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE

The 4-1 Blue Devils debuted their new black-matte helmets, paired nicely with an all-black kit, in their Week 2 home drubbing of FCS North Carolina Central.

Though it’s unclear which uniform combination Duke will suit up in for their home tilt with Virginia this Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade, the fashion police hope it will be the all-blacks with the new helmet as a worthy cherry on top.

Follow this link to see Duke’s all-black get-up.

Maryland

Mitch Stringer-US PRESSWIRE

After offending nearly an entire nation with their flag-splattered tribute uni in 2011, the Terrapins’ 2012 kit is a somewhat milder version of last year’s fashion faux pas.

Oddly, in Maryland’s most recent outing this season, a road trip to face an all-gray West Virginia squad in Week 4, the Terrapins flushed their palette completely and wore an almost-silvery hued, all-white uniform and helmet pairing (aka the “White-Ops” gear).

After a bye week in Week 5, Maryland is likely to return to the home kit it donned vs. UConn and FCS William and Mary (a double date) for its Week 6 game vs. Wake Forest.

This year’s home uni features a slightly less flag-centric helmet, red jersey and a white pants; but what’s not to be missed in this fashion statement is the use—with wild abandon—of black-and-yellow piping.

Notre Dame

The 2011 Notre Dame "Shamrock Series" Kit worn vs. Maryland
Mitch Stringer-US PRESSWIRE

In case you haven’t heard, Week 6 of the 2012 season will pay witness to the “renewal” of the age-old rivalry betwixt Notre Dame and Miami (Fla.).

The Hurricanes and Irish will hook up in Chicago this Saturday night for their first regular-season clash since 1990.

From a uniform standpoint, Notre Dame is extending its lauded “Shamrock Series” approach (used last season vs. Maryland), which has been updated with a wild three-quarters/one-quarter helmet design that really needs careful scrutiny to fully appreciate.

Other than the helmet, the only other aspect that deserves mention in this “one-game” uniform change is a jersey that features a bubbly, modern font and sleeve numbering that is included on the undershirt rather than the actual jumper.

Follow this link to see Notre Dame’s one-game wonder for Week 6.

Rutgers

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

The Scarlet Knights' switch to Nike Pro Combat uniforms for the 2012 season has worked out well thus far, as they enter Week 6 with a dazzling 4-0 record.

Though we’ve already enjoyed a dose of Rutgers’ new aluminum-foil helmets with an either all-white or all-red jersey and pants, this Saturday’s clash with UConn will be the stage on which the all-black kit is unveiled.

The “blackout” scheme is frankly pretty freaking awesome, with kudos to the strong, black “R” on the silvery helmet and some bold styling that is totally in line with the Knight theme.

Follow this link to see a preview of Rutgers’ new all-black uni.

Oregon

Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images

Really, it’s impossible to put on a football fashion show and not invite the high-couture Ducks who continue to set and then reset the bar on “what to wear: on the collegiate gridiron."

Though we are unsure as to what kit Oregon will come out of the tunnel in for this Saturday’s late-night clash with Washington, we do know it will probably worth watching.

Thus far in 2012, the Ducks’ home fashion has included a dazzling bright-yellow-and-green affair in Week 1’s win over Arkansas State, a silver-helmet-and-pants combo with a yellow jersey in Week 2’s win over Fresno State, a very green approach with gray pants in the win over FCS Tennessee Tech in Week 3 and then a green/black bomb in Week 4’s victory over Arizona.

Really, this just serves to illustrate the point that the Ducks' uniform combinations are as deep and wide as the ocean and that no fashion possibility is an impossibility.

My personal hope is that they come out wearing their highlighter look from Week 1 and then add in a fluorescent pink sock or cleat for Breast Cancer Awareness; not only to support the cause, but to add a dash (more) of delicious color.

When standing next to the orange down and distance markers, the Ducks will then represent all the major highlighter color groupings.

Wyoming

Troy Babbitt-US PRESSWIRE

From both a uniform and football perspective, Wyoming has been a bit disappointing this season.

The Cowboys are just 1-3 coming into Week 6’s road trip to Nevada, and though the opening loss to Texas was expected, the narrow 24-22 loss to FCS Cal Poly in Week 3 was not.

There was much hubbub coming into 2012 that Wyoming would feature an absolutely questionable road uniform with yellow-hued camo sleeves, a black-matte helmet and an all-gray kit, but the new garb has yet to surface thus far.

The Cowboys have been mostly bland from a couture standpoint through four games, with the exception of wearing a bright-yellow tunic in their loss to Cal Poly—a combo we are unlikely to see again based on the on-field result.

So, what of the new kit and when, if ever, will we tune in to see what might wind up being the No. 1 offering on the 2012 “worst-dressed” list?

Make sure to check out footage of this Saturday night’s game between Wyoming and Nevada to see if Week 6 is the road game that hits the jackpot.

Follow this link to see the Cowboys' camouflage concoction.

Air Force

Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Another potential super-special single-game uniform premier for Week 6, it has been rumored that Air Force will pull something new out of its bag for Week 6’s afternoon delight with fellow academy Navy.

If you follow this link and check out what is purportedly the Falcons' kit for Saturday’s Navy game, the only real difference between it and what Air Force wore versus Michigan in Week 2 is the blue pants.

Air Force is yet another program that is looking to use a gray scheme with more frequency, a move that actually makes sense for a school that has a serious relationship with similar-colored military aircraft.

If nothing else, it is notable that the Falcons retained the lightning-bolt theme on their helmets for 2012 even though they finally dropped it from their jersey and, up until the Navy game in Week 6, padded pants.

Northwestern

Rich Barnes-US PRESSWIRE

The antithesis of Wyoming thus far in 2012 is Northwestern, a team that has both dazzled on the field (they’re 5-0) and from a uniform perspective.

Yes, there was much ballyhoo coming into the season regarding the Wildcats’ new kit that was to feature a bold horizontal jersey stripe that separated north from south.

And Northwestern delivered big with its big stripe, a fashion statement that was glaringly obvious in its Week 1 road trip to Syracuse.

Indeed, the stripe is more visible on the Wildcats' white away jerseys, and their four consecutive home games from Week 2 through Week 5 might be why you haven’t seen (or even noticed) the new look yet.

The truth is it’s difficult to see a bold black band on a dark-purple frock.

But hark! Your wait may be over, friend, because this Saturday, Northwestern has road game No. 2 for 2012 when it travels to Happy Valley to face Penn State.

Uniform forecasters predict that this is your best opportunity to view the new horizontal stripe since Sept. 1’s win over Syracuse; a projection that is boosted by the fact ESPN is carrying the game nationwide at high noon.

Texas A&M

Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

Another squad with a new kit that has only hit the road once thus far this season, the Aggies will make only their second appearance in their fresh away garb in Week 6.

Texas A&M is set to square off with Ole Miss in its first ever SEC road game this Saturday evening, and as far as what the Aggies will wear to their historic date, think maroon shoulder stripes and a new conference logo.

Yes, we’ve seen a lot of the Aggies' home wear, but don’t forget to set your dial this weekend to see A&M’s tour-de-force road gear that not only has the double sleeve stripe working, but also has the 3-D number effect on the bright-white tunic.

You also gotta love (even though, as a Red Raider fan, there is admittedly not a lot to “love” about A&M) the numbering on the sleeved undershirt that first continues the stripe from the jersey and secondly identifies the athlete from the side.

It’s fashion meeting functionality in a rather jubilant partnership.