Whether its in their classic maroon and gold or mixing it up with an alternate look, ASU football has traditionally been one of the best-looking teams in the country.
In recent years, they've also become one of the most daring when it comes to trying new ideas.
Which have landed, and which haven't?
Let's take a look and rank ASU's looks, in reverse order, from the 2014 season, its final season with Nike before switching apparel companies to adidas on July 1:
13. The Fan Vote — 11/1 vs. Utah
Attire: Black helmet with gold pitchfork and maroon detail, classic maroon jersey, black pants
Score: ASU 19, Utah 16 (OT)
It was one of the most exciting wins of the season for ASU, but by far one of the most drab looks seen from the Sun Devils. The fans had the option of voting for the homecoming uniform, and elected this look over the potential debut of the black "big pitchfork" helmet with gold detailing that would have paired excellently with a black jersey and gold pants. Instead, we're left with a helmet-jersey-pants combination that doesn't mesh and made ASU look like a completely different team. Mixing the black combos with the school's colors have never worked well, especially when both were so clearly emphasized in this look.
12. Senior Day — 11/22 vs. Washington State
Attire: White helmet with maroon pitchfork and gold detail, classic maroon jersey, maroon pants
Score: ASU 52, Washington State 31
On ASU's Senior Day, it seemed appropriate that head coach Todd Graham allowed the seniors to choose what they'd wear for their final home game. However, what sounded good in theory did not necessarily pan out on the field of play. I have no idea what they were going for here, as the white helmet with the monochromatic jersey-pants combo just seem drab. ASU tried a similar look in 2013 against Oregon State except with white pants, with much better results. Luckily, though ASU played like they looked in the first half, they came up with a big second half to push for the big win to avoid their second straight letdown.
11. Storming the Northwest — 10/25 @ Washington
Attire: Classic gold helmet, white jersey, maroon pants
Score: ASU 24, Washington 10
ASU didn't exactly look bad against Washington, but the look they put forth was simply plain. It was a clean look that didn't exactly mesh, but didn't clash either. The weather forced the ESPN broadcast of the game to cut in and out, but fans weren't exactly missing much from an on-field product and from a football fashion perspective. Washington's gold chrome helmets outshone (or should I say out-gleamed) ASU's look, as the Sun Devils had to grind their way to a hard-fought road win.
10. The Sun(less) Bowl — 12/27 vs. Duke (El Paso, Texas)
Attire: White "big pitchfork" helmet, white jersey, maroon pants
Score: ASU 36, Duke 31
The Sun Bowl was another example of a decent look by ASU. There was nothing spectacular about the look, though it would have dropped a few spots had it not been for the marvelous white "big pitchfork" helmets. It was a very entertaining game, and ASU put a solid look and product out on the field. Just not as good of a look as those further on the list.
9. Going "Big" — 9/13 @ Colorado
Attire: Maroon "big pitchfork" helmet, white jersey, maroon pants
Score: ASU 38, Colorado 24
ASU looked good at Colorado — that is, until then-redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly got hurt. That said, ASU managed to hold on for an above-average win. Like the win, ASU looked above-average overall. The "big pitchfork" is an excellent innovation and was used well when paired with the maroon pants with the white and maroon jersey to break up the otherwise monochromatic scheme. A solid, simple look for the Sun Devils.
8. "The New Classic" — 9/6 @ New Mexico
Attire: Classic gold helmet, white jersey, gold pants
Score: ASU 58, New Mexico 23
ASU brought back a retro look and made it look cool again against the Lobos, as they went with the post-Nike classic gold helmet and paired it with the traditional road set of white jersey and gold pants. It's clean with the new-style numbers and Nike font, and particularly played well given the environment in Albuquerque. ASU looked good throughout, and that's not just from their play on the field. I'd grade this look a B (maybe B+) and while not quite in the upper half of ASU looks this season, a solid one nonetheless.
7. "Blackout" — 9/25 vs. UCLA
Attire: "Flame" helmet, black jersey, black pants
Score: UCLA 62, ASU 27
Is it possible to put this set this high simply because of the helmet? It's my list, so I guess it is. Let's be honest — this helmet did not really work with this jersey and these pants, just like it didn't in 2013 against Notre Dame. The gold and red and black of the helmets simply don't match the multi-colored number gradient on the jerseys, By all accounts, it's a flawed concept. But those helmets are so nice. Their execution works perfectly as currently employed at practice by Graham, as he awards the flame helmets to people he said he believes he could win a national title with. Each helmet is unique, and the risk-taking on ASU's part should be commended.
6. "Jael Mary" — 10/4 @ USC
Attire: Black helmet with gold pitchfork and maroon detail, white jersey and black pants
Score: ASU 38, USC 34
During this list, I tried to stray away from tying the uniform too much to the game itself. Quite simply, this look should probably be a few spots lower on the list. It does well with the black-white-black combo but the white jersey simply doesn't match the black. The maroon lettering and detail simply looks like off-black and at times is off-putting. However, that uniform set will forever be linked to then-redshirt junior receiver Jaelen Strong's last-second grab and then-redshirt junior quarterback Mike Bercovici falling to the turf in disbelief. That moment alone immortalized a uniform set that otherwise wouldn't work as well and is forgettable at best.
5. "Maroon Monsoon" — 10/18 vs. Stanford
Attire: Maroon "big pitchfork" helmet, maroon jersey, maroon pants
Score: ASU 26, Stanford 10
Ignore every bad thing I said about monochromatic uniform combinations for the next two entries on the list. The "Maroon Monsoon" was spectacular in its debut against USC in 2013, and was even better against Stanford in 2014. The maroon and gold blends well amongst the sea of maroon at Sun Devil Stadium, and the "big pitchfork" helmets force viewers to look at it instead of the uniform set as a whole. And that's a beautiful thing.
4. "Stormtrooper" — 11/15 @ Oregon State
Attire: White "big pitchfork" helmet, white jersey, white pants
Score: Oregon State 35, ASU 27
Who doesn't love a look that makes you think of "Star Wars?"
Like seriously? You combine the "big pitchfork" look with an all-white set, and you get a masterpiece. This look has seen its highs (winning the Pac-12 South against UCLA in 2013) and lows (Upset vs. Oregon State). The look is simply brilliant. Let out your inner stormtrooper.
3. "The Classic" — 8/28 vs. Weber State
Attire: Classic gold helmet, maroon jersey, gold pants
Score: ASU 45, Weber State 14
Calling out all the O.G. Sun Devils. The Nike "reinvention" also brought with it a beautiful spin on the original maroon and gold Sun Devil look. The pitchfork on the helmet provided a subtle twist from the old look and made it a look of its own. Its a tradition to wear the maroon and gold for the home opener, and ASU loved it so much it broke it out again for the Pac-12 Championship game in 2013. Sleek, simple and beautiful.
2. "Sparky's Back!" — 11/28 vs. Arizona (Territorial Cup)
Attire: "Sparky" gold helmet, white jersey, gold pants
Score: Arizona 42, ASU 35
When ASU underwent the Nike reinvention, one of the biggest casualties came in the form of Sparky. The pitchfork helmet concept was great, but the beauty of Sparky was surprisingly reintroduced with the "Sparky" helmet for the Territorial Cup. It had all the beauty of the rest of the "New Classic" set, but even further demonstrated the school's beautiful trend of uniform combos. That, along with the sunny day in Tucson, made for a game that was visually appealing (despite the score) for Sun Devil fans.
1. "Desert Fuel" — 11/8 vs. Notre Dame
Attire: White helmet with a copper stripe, copper pitchfork with anthracite detail, anthracite jersey, anthracite pants
Score: ASU 55, Notre Dame 31
Welcome to the jersey that introduced us all to the word "anthracite." The much-anticipated uniforms were announced before the 2014 season, and they absolutely did not disappoint. The tribute to Arizona's history was illustrated perfectly, and the national profile and impact of the game drove it to another level entirely. It put ASU on the map, as they would climb to as high as No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Reach the reporter at fardaya@asu.edu or follow @fardaya15 on Twitter.
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