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But before the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ kick off against Hawaii next weekend, we're taking a look back at some of the best (and not-so great) uniforms and helmets throughout the years.

What are your favorite ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football uniforms?

Here's what staff writers Elvia Verdugo, Justin Spears and Michael Lev had to say about some of the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥' most notable ensembles:

Made the grade

Current uniforms

Elvia says:ÌýThe current UA uniforms are a vast improvement over previous years' ensembles, which left many questioning, "Why?" Sometimes it's best to stick with what you know works, and the current uniforms are proof of that, as they resemble the old Desert Swarm era getups. Plus, the team has rocked some pretty sweet helmets along with their fits, like the throwback "ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥" cactus logo and cursive "Cats" helmets.

Justin says:ÌýModernizing an old-school look was probably the highlight of the Kevin Sumlin era at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ debuted the current rendition of the Desert Swarm-era uniforms in a blowout loss to Oregon State in 2019. Unlike the Desert Swarm era, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s defense was a no-show and allowed 56 points to the Beavers. That was the last time ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ wore the uniforms under Sumlin. When Jedd Fisch took over in 2021, he returned the modern Desert Swarm-era uniforms and made it the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥' standard uniform. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s current white helmet-blue jersey-white pants combo will always be a clean look. Ditto for the all-white Stormtrooper look. As for the helmets with the cactus logo decal? A+++.ÌýÌý

Michael says: This overall uniform concept is the best of the "Lev Era" (past 10 years), but I have some stipulations. I don't like the blue jersey-blue pants combo. Too monochrome. Blue jerseys with white pants is the best, followed by the aforementioned "Stormtrooper" look. I'd even accept white jerseys with blue pants on the road. The same construct applies to the recently integrated red jerseys. Gotta pair those with white pants and white helmets. That combo is as clean as it gets.

Pearl Harbor 75th anniversary alternates

Elvia says:ÌýAlternates can be some of the best or some of the worst uniforms you will ever lay your eyes on (looking at you, MLB City Connect). Fortunately, the UA has created some nice-looking alternates over the years, including the 75th anniversary Pearl Harbor memorial jersey the team rocked againstÌýHawaii on Sept. 17, 2016. The uniform is filled with intricate details from top to bottom. The helmet included the ship's rally cry, "At 'Em ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥," and a decal of the USS ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ bell from the UAÌýStudent Union Memorial Center. The jersey featured "BB-39," the hull's identification number, on the back, instead of players' last names. While the sleeves were adorned with theÌýhornet logo of the 47^thÌýFighter Squadron based in Tucson and a 48-star flag (referencing ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ as the 48th state). This memorial jersey is a unique way to tie together ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ history.

Justin says:ÌýÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is no stranger to military-themed uniforms over the years, but the Pearl Harbor memorial uniforms in 2016 kickstarted the trend. Since then, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ rolled out "battle gray" uniformsÌýin 2020 andÌý"dress whites" uniforms in '21, which had red digital camouflage numbers, a "355th Fighter Wing" patch on the collar of the jersey and a Davis-Monthan Air Force Base decal on the back of the helmet. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s military-themed uniforms in its home finale against Utah in 2023 were navy blue jerseys with digital gray camouflage shoulders and numbering and gray pants. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ didn't have special military-themed uniforms last season, but they wore a helmetÌýdecal with an American flag-printed state of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ with a "Block A" in the center. But nothing will ever top the Pearl Harbor uniforms. As the kids say, the uniforms had aura.

Michael says: I'm all on the Pearl Harbor throwbacks. Not only do they classily honor our servicemen and women, they're different and cool. The jerseys are just slightly off white, signifying a get-dirty toughness. The old-school "A" on the helmet also gives strong throwback vibes. It'd be sweet if ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ could bring some version of these back. Who'd say no?

Smith era ensemble

Elvia says:ÌýWhen the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ took down North Carolina, 30-21, for the program's first bowl win in 1986, they did so in style. But even before the Aloha Bowl, the team remained on top of their football and style game, going on a 9-3 run that season in mesh jerseys and helmets adorned with paw print decals and a version of the block "A" that can now be described as "vintage." Anyone else interested in seeing the paw print decals return? Let's put theÌýwild detailsÌýback on helmets every once in a while.Ìý

Justin says:ÌýSimilar to Ohio State's buckeye leaf decals, the paw print decals were a sign of on-field success for a player. The more stickers on the helmet, the better the player. Coach Larry Smith's tenure was also a successful era of UA football. If ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ can pay homage to the Desert Swarm with its uniforms, why not bring back paw print decals to honor the second-winningest coach in program history?Ìý

Michael says: Mesh jerseys obviously aren't going to fly nowadays. But helmet stickers? Bring 'em on. Anything you can do to distinguish your program nowadays is worth trying. Not only would it generate buzz on social media, it would give the players something to strive forÌý— and us in the media something to talk and write about. We're all about those narratives.Ìý

Honorable mention

The 1899s

Elvia says: ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football wouldn't be what it is today without its foundersÌý— the original team that started the program in 1899. When researching past uniforms for this story, I was blown away by the design of the first team's getup. The bold stripes may be giving "Hamburglar," but dare I say, it's kind of iconic, even 126 years later.

Justin says:ÌýSportswriters nowadays don't have the power to change colors of teams and universities, but a writer from the student newspaper in November 1900 wrote the school's original palette of sage green and silver hadÌý"outgrown its usefulness" and it wasn't appealing for apparel and or flags. The original colors were to honor theÌýsage bush and the mining industry in ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. A committee in December 1900 voted for the school to change its colors. But if Oregon can wear navy blue and gold uniforms (looking like Cal) for a game, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ should have a sage green and silver alternate down the road.

Michael says: I'm 100% in favor of bringing back the sage and silver for a throwback-themed game. Again, a lot of this is about marketing. (Can you imagine how many sage-and-silver T-shirts UA could sell?) But it would also serve as a tribute to the founding fathers of UA football. And very few programs have that color combination. So why not be bold and different? were a massive hit. Yes, they were still mostly Illini colors. But they made it feel as if you were being transported to a different era. The sage-and-silver stripes would have that same effect.

Not so cool for school

Ghastly gradientsÌý

Elvia says:ÌýNot even fun helmets like red chrome or multiple uniform colorways could save this concept. From the font to the gradient, this design is one of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s worst. The all-red in particular is hard to look at, especially when the bottom of the numbers kind of blends in with the rest of the uniform. It was the right choice to leave this ombré design in the 2010s.

Justin says:ÌýRich Rodriguez won several games and took the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to the postseason consistently, but the uniforms during his tenure were awful. Up close, the gradient numbers were akin to the different shades of paint on the wall at Home Depot. Hard pass.

Michael says: Just awful. It's a shame that one of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s all-time greatest players, Scooby Wright (pictured), had to wear these abominations as he sacked opposing quarterbacks and wreaked havoc in opponents' backfields. Unfortunately, the next iteration of uniforms wasn't much better ...

Not our type

Elvia says: The end of the RichRod era and beginning of the Sumlin era jerseys don't make the grade. While the font choice alone isn't the most appealing, the fontÌýsize doesn't help its case. Huge numbers in a questionable font make you say, "oh geez," when first seeing these unis (and probably a few times after, too). The bright side? The people in the nosebleeds at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Stadium could keep track of what's going on in a game without binoculars.

Justin says:ÌýWhile the numbers were enormous, they didn't have a white outline, so it was challenging to see the jerseys from the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Stadium press box. Not only were the uniforms ugly-looking, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ didn't win many games in them. Between 2017-20, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ were 16-26 with one bowl appearance — a loss to Purdue in the Foster Farms Bowl. Playing bad and looking bad? Yikes.

Michael says: Justin nailed it. The biggest problem with these uniformsÌý— and it also applied when the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ wore blueÌý— was the lack of a white outline around the numbers. On TV, even in HD, it was difficult at times to figure out who was who. It looked like someone used the wrong setting on the washing machine. The apple-red helmets were cool, as were the blue matte ones worn at times during this era, but it doesn't make up for the fact that the jerseys didn't pop in any way.

The copper craze

Elvia says: This selection probably isn't much of a surprise to anyone in Tucson. The infamous copper helmets round out our list, and quite frankly, there isn't a whole lot to say about them except that they were ... a choice. Paired with the gradient uniforms that were mentioned earlierÌý— it's a style disaster. Of course, we love our home state, but there are plenty of other ways to show that appreciation in less gaudy forms.

Justin says:ÌýThe gesture was nice. It was a helmet tribute to the state's copper mining history, but it was essentially a Cienega High School helmet with a "Block A" decal. Hey, it's the thought that counts.

Michael says: I don't hate the idea of copper, especially because of what it represents in our state. I just wonder if there's a different, subtler way to go about it. Maybe a copper-infused Block A on the white helmets? Copper striping on the jerseys or pants? The copper helmets are better in concept than reality. But there's something there. See West Virginia's for inspiration.