SDS’ own Brad Crawford is borderline obsessed with uniform designs and helmet updates. So much so, he wears vision shields to work and provided a comprehensive look in August at the combinations each team in the SEC will be wearing this fall.
Here’s a team-by-team glance at what you’ll see in the SEC this season:
- Alabama (Nike)
- Arkansas (Nike)
- Auburn (Under Armour)
- Florida (Nike)
- Georgia (Nike)
- Kentucky (Nike)
- LSU (Nike)
- Mississippi St. (Adidas)
- Mizzou (Nike)
- Ole Miss (Nike)
- South Carolina (Under Armour)
- Tennessee (Adidas)
- Texas A&M (Adidas)
- Vanderbilt (Nike)
Furthermore, Crawford’s ranked the home, road, alternate concept sets for each team too. There’s no real formula in selecting the best looks, just what he deems as appealing to the eye and intimidating to the opposition.
Tradition often helps for bonus points, but it’s 2014 and ‘new hotness’ is in.
Ranking the SEC’s best 2014 alternate helmet concept; graphics by @SECFrenzy
10. FLORIDA — The first of two Gator concepts in this list, a 360-degree chrome lid would look great under the sun in Gainesville.
9. VANDERBILT — If you look closely, you can see a Nashville street reflected in the helmet stripe.
8. MISSISSIPPI STATE — Finally, a helmet concept worth raving about in Starkville. These are up there with last year’s golden egg lids in terms of style.
7. MIZZOU — Modeled after Oregon’s ‘liquid lightning’ volt helmet, these alternates for the Tigers would scream ‘look at me’ with worn with an all-black, volt-striped uniform combination.
6. AUBURN — Our designer took a page out of Navy’s playbook with this two-toned matte shell and chrome-striped lid for the Tigers.
5. GEORGIA — The multi-colored facemasks on these carbon fiber mocks (with a new helmet decal) are similar to the design the Bulldogs wore as a Nike Pro Combat look against Boise State in 2011.
4. FLORIDA — More college teams are moving to matte white designs and the Gators should be next.
3. SOUTH CAROLINA — A carbon fiber lid with gradient garnet and black alternate decals, the Gamecocks could wear this look at home or on the road with Under Armour’s current uniform sets.
2. LSU — The Tigers’ purple alternate with the Mizzou flavored oversized logo is slick option at home under the lights on a Baton Rouge Saturday night.
1. TENNESSEE — Matte orange with a chrome decal and Power T would look great on the road with a white on white combination.
JUST MISSED THE CUT: Alabama, Arkansas
