2017’s new college football uniforms: Simple is the new trend

These clean designs are the new thing, after years of flashy, weird, and complicated.

College football uniforms have gotten wilder and wilder for years. Back in 2010, Nike’s Pro Combat uniforms became a popular trend, and teams like Oregon became known for wearing different unis every week.

Oregon’s had a billion color combos, ones that sometimes drastically strayed away from traditional school colors. There were some that were mostly gray with hints of black and neon yellow, and some mostly yellow with black helmets. There was a blue-and-gold combo that read “Webfoots” on the chest, and ones that resembled actual ducks. They wore Lewis and Clark-themed jerseys in 2015.

Even Oregon fans started to agree it was all a bit much. And it wasn’t just Oregon.

But as we enter 2017, teams are dialing back on the experimentation.

Even the Ducks have said they’re sticking with a more traditional look.

"We're going to try to stick to more traditional colors this year," Kenny Farr, UO's football equipment administrator, said, though Oregon’s new uniforms aren’t out yet. "Trying to kind of simplify a few things but still keep it modern and keep it looking really good."

Want a bunch of examples?

Here’s UCLA’s beautiful new look, ending years of one of college sports’ most iconic color schemes being tampered with:

UNC’s new uniforms switch from Nike to Nike’s Jordan Brand, reminding everyone where Michael Jordan went to school. That means putting a basketball logo on a football uni, but these are still clean.

Nebraska’s got some new alternates for its game against Wisconsin, with almost no striping and only one unusual element: 1997-style faux-mesh numbers. Nothing is more old-school than mesh jerseys.

Washington State revealed these bad boys, and the combinations look clean, thanks to a lack of striping and other complicated elements.

Via @WSUCougars

The Utah Utes’ new uniforms really have a streamlined feel. Gone are the images of mountains from the jersey sleeves.

Middle Tennessee’s going minimalist, too.

Navy always looks nice and recently unveiled these new Under Armour uniforms. These will probably deviate come time for the Army game, as both teams typically wear gorgeous alternates then.

Via @Navy FB

Rutgers revealed these all-black Adidas uniforms the Scarlet Knights will wear against Maryland in Yankee Stadium.

Rutgers Athletics/Adidas

Oregon State’s got a mostly monochrome new look. When just about the wildest detail on this entire list is an orange eye on a silver animal, you know things have changed.

Boise State’s standard uniforms have been pretty straightforward, albeit with bright colors and a huge helmet logo, and their new gear evolves that look.

Boise State

Arizona will have new uniforms in 2017, featuring some different helmet options but a more straightforward design, no more gradient sleeves, and thin numbers.

Cal also unveiled their new Under Armour uniforms for this season, featuring less yellow on the jersey, and a blue stripe down the side of the pants.

Sometimes, brighter and flashier isn’t better, and it seems some schools are coming to the same conclusion.

We’ll keep this updated, especially if the trend continues with other programs as more uniforms get released this offseason.