Pac-12 Conference

ARIZONA ARIZONA STATE CALIFORNIA
"Wildcats" "Sun Devils" "Golden Bears"
Tucson, AZ Tempe, AZ Berkeley, CA
COLORADO OREGON OREGON STATE
"Buffaloes" "Ducks" "Beavers"
Boulder, CO Eugene, OR Corvallis, OR
STANFORD UCLA USC
"Cardinal" "Bruins" "Trojans"
Palo Alto, CA Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA
UTAH WASHINGTON WASHINGTON STATE
"Utes" "Huskies" "Cougars"
Salt Lake City, UT Seattle, WA Pullman, WA

Historical Helmets

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

1960 - 1964 1965 - 1966? 1966? - 1967
*see note 1 below
1968 - 1969 1970 - 1971 1972
1973 - 1976 1977 - 1979 1980
1981 - 1982 1983 - 1989 1990 - 2003
*see note 2 below *see note 2 below
'A' 'B' 'C'
2010 - 2012 2004 - 2016; 2020 - 2012 - 2013
*see note 2 below *see note 3 below
'D' 'E' 'F'
2012 - 2019 December 30, 2009;
2013 - 2019 		2014
'G' 'H' 'I'
2015 - 2018 2016 2017 - 2018
'J' 'K' 'L'
2018 2018 - 2019 -
*see note 2 below
'M'
2020 -

During recent years Arizona has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

There are three additional "known" historical helmets for Arizona (used since 1960) which I have not yet been able to add to this website due to insufficient information; below are photographs of these:

The design on the left above was used in 1965 and apparently in 1966, also; the helmets appear to be plain white in all photographs that I have seen, with an unknown stripe sequence (probably blue-red-blue). The spacing of the stripes may have varied, and some photos seem to indicate a narrow gap between the colored stripes, creating two additional white stripes. I would appreciate any color photographs from the 1965 and 1966 seasons that clarify the stripe sequence on this design.

The helmet in the right photograph above shows a "wildcat head" logo used during the 1967 season, and possibly during at least some games in 1966, also. This is by far the best photograph, and the only color photograph, which I have received showing this design. Does anyone have a larger or clearer photograph, or a copy of the helmet logo used on this one?

The 1972 design is shown above. On the left is a screen capture from a video that was sent to me; the video is from a practice session prior to the 1972 East-West Shrine Bowl game. Previously I had thought that the football-shaped logo on this design was blue in color, but obviously that was not the case during at least this game. Since the Shrine Bowl is an exhibition game it does not strictly "count" for the purposes of this website, but I would note that all of the other identifiable helmets present in the video did appear to be identical to the ones used by their wearer's respective college team that year. On the right is another photograph from an earlier game which suggests that the logo was the same color as the helmet shell. I do not think anyone has ever sent me a clear photograph of an actual 1972 Arizona helmet showing a blue football-shape, so I now think the logo was probably red in 1972. Obviously I would appreciate any additional clear color photographs. The color of the middle stripe (between the two white stripes) also remains unclear, but I now think it was more likely red rather than blue.

*1 The stripe sequence may have differed from this during the very early 1960s.

*2 Each of these helmet designs has a white stripe in the middle, flanked by a blue stripe on the left side and by a red stripe on the right side.

*3 This was Arizona's usual helmet design from 2004 through 2009, and it was later used October 16, 2010 (at Washington State), November 6, 2010 (at Stanford), December 29, 2010 (vs Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl game at San Antonio, TX), September 17, 2011 (vs Stanford), and September 24, 2011 (vs Oregon), plus additional games 2012 - 2016 as noted above.

Return to top of page

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

1959 - 1960 1961 - 1968;
1970 - 1974		 1969
1975 1976 - 1979 1980 - 1984
1985 - 1991 1992 - 1995 2003 (away games)
'J' 'B'
November 15, 2008 1996 - 2010; 2014;
2017 -		 2011 -
'C' 'D' 'E'
2011 - 2011 - 2012 -
'F' 'G' 'H'
2013 - 2013 - 2013 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
'I' 'K' 'A'
2014 - 2012 2011 -
'L' 'M' 'N'
2015 - 2015 - 2015 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below *see note 1 below
'O' 'P' 'Q'
2015 - 2016 2016 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
'R' 'S' 'T'
2016 - 2016 - 2017 -
'U' 'V' 'W'
2017 - 2018 - 2018 -
*see note 1 below
'X' 'Y' 'Z'
2018 - 2018 - 2018 -
*see note 1 below *see note 2 below *see note 1 below
'AA' 'AB' 'AC'
2019 - 2019 - 2019 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
'AD' 'AE' 'AF'
2019 - 2019 - 2019 -
'AG' 'AH' 'AI'
2019 - 2019 - 2019 -
'AJ' 'AK' 'AL'
2020 - 2020 - 2020 -
*see note 1 below
'AM' 'AN' 'AO'
2021 - 2021 - 2021 -
'AP' 'AQ' 'AR'
2021 - 2021 - 2021 -
*see note 1 below
'AS' 'AT' 'AU'
2021 - 2021 - 2021 -
*see note 2 below
'AV' 'AW' 'AX'
2021 - 2021 - 2022 -
*see note 1 below
'AY' 'AZ' 'BA'
2022 - 2022 - 2022 -
*see note 1 below
'BB' 'BC' 'BD'
2022 - 2022 - 2022 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
'BE' 'BF' 'BG'
2022 - 2022 - 2022 -
*see note 2 below *see note 1 below
'BH' 'BI' 'BJ'
2023 - 2023 - 2023 -
'BK' 'BL'
2023 - 2023 -

During recent years Arizona State has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 The right side of each of these designs differs from the left as depicted below.

'F' and 'X' 'G' 'L'
'M' 'N' 'P'
'Q' 'V' 'V1'
'Z' 'AA' and 'AJ' 'AB'
'AR' 'AV' 'AY'
'BB' 'BD' 'BF'

*2 The shield logo is worn on the left side only of design 'Y'; the right side has a large "pitchfork" logo (as represented below). The shield logo on designs 'AT' and 'BE' is worn on both sides. The shield contains the lettering "PT 42" in memory of former ASU football player Pat Tillman, who left an NFL career to join the US Army after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack; Tillman was killed while serving in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. He had worn uniform number 42 during his football career at ASU.

Return to top of page

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

c.1960 1962 only? c.1966 - 1971
1972 - 1975 1976 - 1977;
November 10, 2007;
September 23, 2017;
October 13, 2018		 1978 - 1980
1981 1982 1984
*see note 1 below
1985 1983; 1986 1987 - 1989
*see note 2 below
'A'
October 6, 2011;
October 29, 2011;
September 1, 2012		 2008 - 2012 1990 - 2007; 2013 -
'B' 'C'
2022 - 2022 -

In 2022 California used three of the above helmet designs in the following sequence: A-A-A; A-A-A; A-A-B; A-C-B.

*1 The logo on this design includes a small "100" apparently in recognition of the university's football centennial.

*2 This design is "blank" on its left side but has the yellow script "Cal" logo on its right side.

Return to top of page

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

1959 - 1961 1962 1963 - 1965
*see note 1 below
1966 1967 1968
1969 - 1976 1977 - 1978 1979 - 1980
1981 1982 - 1984 September 26, 1998
'B'
1985 - 2004 September 19, 2009 2011 - 2013; 2015 -
'C' 'D' 'E'
October 26, 2013 2014 2014
'F' 'G' 'H'
2014 2015 - 2015 -
'I' 'J' 'K'
2019 - 2019 - 2022 -
*see note 2 below
'L' 'M' 'N'
2022 - 2023 - 2023 -
'A'
2005 -

During recent years Colorado has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 Helmets with oddly-shaped "horns" were used during at least the period 1959 through 1961, with there apparently being some variation in the shape of the horns during this period; the helmet image above is intended to represent an average of the different shapes. A different style of "horns" was used earlier, perhaps during only a single game, the Orange Bowl game vs Clemson in January 1957.

*2 The "V" on this design is present on the left side only; on the right side is the usual "CU/buffalo" logo (as shown on design 'A'). The 'V' recognizes Colorado's live buffalo mascot Ralphie V, who "retired" in 2019.

Return to top of page

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

c.1961 1963? - 1966? 1967 only?
1968 1969 - 1971 1972 - ?
c.mid 1970s 1978 - 1983 1984 - 1994
'J'
1995 1996 - 1998;
September 26, 2009		 December 21, 2006
'B' 'H'
October 20, 2007;
additional games 2007-2010		 December 1, 2007;
September 6, 2008;
September 20, 2008		 November 15, 2008;
2009-2011; 2016 -
*see note 1 below
'D' 'E' 'F'
December 4, 2009 2010 - 2011 December 4, 2010
'C' 'G' 'I'
January 10, 2011 2011 - November 5, 2011
*see note 2 below
'K' 'L' 'M'
November 12, 2011 January 2, 2012 2012 - 2014
*see note 3 below
'N' 'O' 'A'
2012 2012 - 2014 1999 - 2011
'P' 'Q' 'R'
2012 - 2014 2013 - 2014 2013 - 2014
'S' 'T' 'U'
2013 2014 2014 -
'V' 'W' 'X'
2015 2015 2015
*see note 4 below
'Y' 'Z' 'AA'
2015 2015 2015
'AB' 'AC' 'AD'
2015 2015 2015
'AE' 'AF' 'AG'
2015 2015 2015
'AH' 'AI' 'AJ'
2016 2016 2016
*see note 5 below
'AK' 'AL' 'AM'
2016 2016 2016
'AN' 'AO' 'AP'
2016 2017 2017 -
'AQ' 'AR' 'AS'
2017 2018 - 2018 -
'AT' 'AU' 'AV'
2018 - 2019 - 2021 -
*see note 6 below
'AW' 'AX' 'AY'
2020 2021 - 2021 -
*see note 6 below
'AZ' 'BA' 'BB'
2022 - 2022 - 2022 -
'BC'
2022 -

During recent years Oregon has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 When first used in 2007 this design featured a subtle "flame" pattern which was even less prominent than the faint pattern appearing on the greenish-yellow helmets used occasionally by Oregon from 2006 to 2008, and I have not attempted to represent the "flames" in this depiction (indeed they may not have even been present after the first or second use of the white helmets). First used at Washington on October 20, 2007; subsequently used November 24, 2007 (at UCLA), September 13, 2008 (at Purdue), October 25, 2008 (at Arizona State), November 1, 2008 (at California), September 3, 2009 (at Boise State), September 19, 2009 (vs Utah), January 1, 2010 (Vs Ohio State in the Rose Bowl game), October 30, 2010 (at Southern California), and November 13, 2010 (at California). A couple of people have reported detecting no trace of the "flames" during the 2008 Purdue game, while another reported that they may have been very faintly visible.

*2 Worn during the 2011 BCS championship game vs Auburn at Glendale, AZ. The color of the "O" decal worn during this game was slightly different from that of the one worn vs Portland State earlier during the 2010 season - specifically, it was a greenish-yellow "neon" color, as opposed to the pure yellow of the Portland State game.

*3 Worn vs Wisconsin during the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, CA. The helmet shell was of a "color" which had never been used before on a football helmet, to the best of my knowledge. It was referred to as "black chrome" by the university, but the finish was essentially mirror-like, causing the shell to reflect nearly all of the light striking it. There was also a pattern of even more-reflective "feathers" on the design, and an "O" worn high up on the back of the helmet (not visible from the vantage point used here). I could think of no better way to represent the appearance of the helmet than to manipulate an actual photograph, which I have done in the helmet image above. The bluish colors on the upper half of the helmet are reflections of the sky, the bright white spot is a reflection of the setting sun, and the lower half of the helmet reflects the stadium, the grass, etc. I have employed this same technique for nearly all of the other "chrome" helmets represented at this site for other teams.

*4 This design has two slightly different helmet logos - a "happy duck" on the left side, and an "angry duck" on the right side (as represented below).

*5 This design has two slightly different helmet logos - a "happy duck" on the left side, and an "angry duck" on the right side (as represented below).

*6 Clarification of differences: design 'AT' generally looks "black" but is apparently a dark, low-saturation greenish-gray color with a matte finish; the "wing" or "feathers" are a glossy very dark greenish-black color. 'AW' is a glossy or shiny black helmet with "wings" or "feathers" having a woven textile pattern in what appears to be black and dark gray colors. Below are photographs of these two designs to better illustrate the differences.

Return to top of page

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

c.early 1960s 1965 - 1972 1969
1973 1974 1975
1976 - 1978 1978 1979
1980 - 1982 1983 - 1984 1985
1986 - 1990 1991 - 1994 1994 - 1996
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
December 4, 2010 1997 - 1998 1999 - 2012
*see note 2 below
'A' 'B' 'C'
2013 - 2015 2013 - 2014 2013 - 2014
'D' 'E' 'F'
2015 2015 - 2018 2016 - 2018
'G' 'H' 'I'
2016 - 2017 2016 2016
'J' 'K' 'L'
2017 2017 - 2017
'M' 'N' 'O'
2018 2019; 2022 - 2019; 2021
'P' 'Q'
2022 - 2023 -

During recent years Oregon State has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 A switch from the decal with orange letters to the one with black letters was apparently made at some point during the 1993 season, though I do not know precisely when. The black version was is use by at least the Oregon game.

*2 In 1997 and 1998, the same beaver logo that has been worn on the right sides of OSU's helmets since 1999 was worn on the right side of the helmets, with the left sides "blank".

Return to top of page

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

? - 1964 1965 - ? ? - 1976
*see note 1 below
1977 - 1978 1979 1980 - 1991
2002 - 2007 November 26, 2011 1992 - 2001; 2008 - 2014
December 31, 2014 - 2017 December 5, 2015;
October 8, 2016;
October 14, 2017 		December 1, 2017
December 28, 2017; 2018 - October 6, 2018 October 17, 2019;
October 30, 2021
October 2, 2021 September 30, 2023 November 25, 2023

*1 The "S" logo was apparently first used in either 1967 or 1968.

Return to top of page

UCLA University of California at Los Angeles

1969 1960 - 1968; 1970 - 1972;
November 7, 2009		 1973 - 1995
*see note 1 below
2000 - 2003 November 26, 2011 November 3, 2012;
November 24, 2012
November 15, 2013;
December 31, 2013		 November 1, 2014 1996 - 1999; 2004 - 2016
October 22, 2015 November 7, 2015 November 14, 2015
November 12, 2016 September 30, 2017 2017 - 2018
2019 -

USC University of Southern California

January 1, 1963 1969 ? - 1968;
1970 - 1971
*see note 1 below *see note 2 below
1992 1988 - 1991;
1993 - 2000		 1972 - 1987;
2001 -

USC has one of the smallest sets of historical helmet designs among American college teams, with apparently only three helmet logos having ever been used.

*1 Uniform numbers were worn on USC's helmets during at least the January 1, 1963 Rose Bowl game against Wisconsin; the numbers were apparently not worn during any earlier game in the 1962 season.

*2 USC apparently used the college football centennial "100" logo on the left side only of each helmet; the right side was "blank".

Return to top of page

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

1959 - 1965 1966 - 1967 1969
1968 - 1973 1974 1975 - 1976
1977? - 1985 1986 - 1987 1988 - 1989
*see note 1 below
1990 - 2000 2001 - 2003 2004 - 2008?
'B' 'C'
November 6, 2010 September 22, 2012 2012 -
'D' 'E' 'F'
2013 - 2013 2014 -
'G' 'H' 'I'
2014 - 2014 - 2014 -
'J' 'K' 'L'
2014 - 2015 - 2015 -
'M' 'N' 'O'
2015 - 2015 - 2016 -
'A' 'P' 'Q'
2009 - 2015 2015 - 2016 -
'R' 'S' 'T'
2016 - 2016 - 2017 -
'U' 'V' 'W'
2017 - 2017 - 2018 -
'X' 'Y' 'Z'
2018 2018 - 2019 -
*see note 2 below
'AA' 'AB' 'AC'
2019 - 2019 - 2019 -
'AD' 'AE' 'AF'
2020 - 2021 - 2021 -
'AG' 'AH' 'AI'
2021 - 2021 - 2022 -
'AJ' 'AK' 'AL'
2022 - 2022 - 2022 -
*see note 3 below
'AM'
2022 -

During recent years Utah has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

During at least one game in 1969 (vs Brigham Young), Utah used a version of the "100" college football centennial logo, as may be seen in the photograph below. The color of the football-shape is unknown, as is whether or not the logo was worn on both sides of the helmet, and whether it was used during any other games (it was reportedly NOT used against Arizona State, Utah State, and Wyoming).

*1 Stripes were added to the helmet by 1977, but I do not know in which year the facemask color was changed from gray to white. It was gray in 1976 but had been switched to white by 1978.

*2 Uniform numerals are worn on the left side only of this design; on the right side is a "UU" logo within an outline of the state of Utah (as represented below).

*3 This design features portraits of two Utah football players who died nine months apart in 2020 and 2021; Aaron Lowe is depicted on the left side, and Ty Jordan on the right side (as depicted below). On the back of this design is the same logo worn on design 'AG', which incorporates the initials of the two players and the uniform number 22 which both of them wore.

Return to top of page

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

1960 - 1971 (regular design);
September 29, 2007		 1972 - 1974 (regular)
c.1962 - 1971 (award)		 1969
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
1975 - 1989 1995 1996 - 1998
'B' 'C' 'D'
2011; 2013 2011 - 2013 2012
'E' 'F' 'G'
2013 - 2015; 2017 2013 2014 - 2015
'H' 'I' 'J'
2014 - 2015 2014 - 2015 2016
'K' 'L' 'M'
2017 - 2018 2020 - 2021 -
'A'
1990 - 1994; 1999 -

During recent years Washington has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

During the 1969 season, Washington used a version of the "100" decal that many teams used that year; Washington's version appears to have included a yellow football-shape with a white outline, and with numerals of some dark color outlined in white. Based on color photographs that I have seen of other teams' versions of these decals, I think it is not necessarily safe to assume that Washington's version featured purple numerals, and that blue or black were perhaps just as likely.

*1 According to information I have received from visitors to this web site, Washington's usual helmet shell color was gold from at least 1960 through 1971, and purple from 1972 through 1974. However, during both of these periods, certain players were "awarded" with alternate helmet designs for good performances. At least as early as 1962 and up through 1971, some players were awarded with plain purple helmets. Site visitor Rick O. reports that, in 1970 and 1971, the purple helmets were awarded only to "defensive players that gave 110% effort at all times", and that the number of players awarded with such helmets was twelve in 1970 and eleven in 1971. The criteria by which these helmets were awarded prior to 1970 is unknown to me at present.

With the change from gold helmets to purple ones at some point in 1972 (whether at the beginning of the season or some time later remains unknown), a change in the "award helmet" scheme was also made. Players were now awarded with a gold "W", similar in shape to that which appeared regularly on Washington's helmets beginning in 1975. Fifteen players were given the gold "W" in 1972 (four on the offensive team, eleven on defense). In 1973, only three players (all defensive) were awarded with the gold "W"; these players were also allowed to wear two gold stripes on their helmets. The "award helmet" program may have been discontinued in 1974.

Return to top of page

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

? - 1963 1964 - 1967 1968 - 1969
1969 1970 - 1975 1976 - 1977?
1978? - 1987? 1995 (game #5) 1995 (last six games)
*see note 1 below
January 1, 1998 January 1, 2003 November 22, 2008
*see note 2 below *see note 4 below
'E' 'B'
1988 - 1994; 1995 (games 1-4);
1996 - 1999;
Games vs. Washington 2004-2010
(except 2008); 2008 (home games)		 1999 - 2007;
2009 - 2010 (home games) 		2000 - 2010 (away games);
2011 - 2015; 2017 -
*see notes 3 & 5 below *see note 5 below *see note 5 below
'A' 'C' 'D'
2011 - 2015 2014 - 2016; 2018 - 2019 2015
'F' 'G' 'H'
2016 - 2019 2016 - 2019 2016 - 2017; 2019
'I' 'J' 'K'
2016 2017 2017 - 2019
'L' 'M' 'N'
2017 - 2020 - 2022 -

Helmet design 'N' (used October 27, 2022 vs Utah) had a new logo - the school nickname 'Wazzu' in an irregular script-like style; I have been unable to locate the artwork for this helmet decal, which I will need in order to add this one to the website. Below is a photograph of this design:

During recent years Washington State has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

During at least the 1962 and 1963 seasons WSU used white helmets (or perhaps gray or silver helmets) with uniform numerals on the sides; the color of the numerals is unknown presently. A color photograph from these years would be appreciated. Below is a photograph from this period.

*1 This helmet design was used only during the game against Oregon State in 1995, in observance of the team's 100th anniversary. Two white stripes were added to the helmet for its remaining games in 1995.

*2 A rose was incorporated into the "Cougars" decal for WSU's appearance in the Jan. 1, 1998 Rose Bowl game against Michigan.

*3 This design was used continuously from 1988 through 1999 with the exception of the last seven games in 1995 and an unknown number of games in 1999; it was also used during each game against Washington during the years 2004 through 2010, except for 2008.

*4 Washington State used a special decal for its January 1, 2003 appearance in the Rose Bowl game against Oklahoma.

*5 Beginning with the 2000 season, WSU introduced a two-helmet scheme; the crimson helmet with white "WSC"/cougar head logo was used during road games, and the gray helmet with the same logo in crimson was used for home games. The design for the gray helmet had also been used for some games during the 1999 season (specific dates would be appreciated). This scheme was in place through the 2007 season with occasional exceptions, particularly for the annual games against Washington (see other notes in this section).

During the 2008 season, the same scheme was retained, with the exception that a different logo - the team name "Cougars" in crimson - was used on the gray home helmets. In 2009 and 2010 the team switched back to the "WSC"/cougar head logo for use on the gray home helmets.

Return to top of page