Last night, two teams from the Sun Belt Conference unveiled new uniforms for the upcoming college football season, along with an unexpected alternate helmet design by Utah State that originated as an April Fool’s joke.
First, let’s discuss the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM), which introduced a striking black alternate uniform paired with a white helmet. The Warhawks plan to debut this look during their second game of the season against UAB on September 7th.
While the uniform is largely simple, there is an intricate design present in the details, featuring the school logo, conference patch, manufacturer’s insignia, and lettering across the chest. Some might prefer sleeve stripes instead of the repeated mouth design that echoes the classic P-40 Warhawk fighter plane, but overall, the uniform comes together nicely. The star logo from the aircraft is displayed in school colors on the right hip, the back of the helmet, and within the state of Louisiana design on the back nameplate of the jersey.
The contrasting gold numbers are well-sized and the chosen font is an improvement over the blocky style previously used. While opinions on white helmets with dark jerseys may vary, the unique color scheme of this alternate uniform is refreshing compared to an all-black design. This new number font would be a great addition to their standard uniforms in the future.
The other team, Texas State, revealed their new white uniform with a gold helmet, though they did not share images, leading to some screenshots from a dimly-lit hype video instead. The gold helmet features a prominent script logo and maroon/white/maroon stripes, while the jersey and pants incorporate maroon/gold/maroon stripes.
Additionally, a patch celebrating the school’s 125-year anniversary is present above the conference logo, marking the college’s founding five years prior to their football program’s initiation. Texas State deserves recognition for opting against a full white look, as the integration of script and stripes signifies a considerable improvement over last year’s plain all-white ensemble.
Lastly, Utah State’s alternate helmet, inspired by their cow-themed April Fool’s prank, will make an appearance in their upcoming game against Robert Morris. Celebrating its agricultural heritage, Utah State is excited to highlight its connection to local farms, as Cache County boasts over 1,300 farms and ranks among the top 200 counties nationwide for market value of milk sold. It’ll be interesting to see how this lighthearted helmet looks on the field during their game.