So I’m looking for wraps/ skins for the Arkfeld pro! All I can find is two ugly camo designs in going gears website and the better looking of the two is sold out lol. I would also love if anyone has the template file for cutting said skins as I could just use my Cricut to make my own.

Starting out, I was unable to activate undercover mode.
What do I need to do?
So far I've tried:

• stand in HQ or far away from enemies
• remove all weapons
• dress only in civ clothing (straw hat, commoner clothes)
• remove radio / gps / binoculars
• civilian off-road truck

When I try to activate Undercover mode I get a popup saying "Undercover not supported by current civ template".
Is there some other condition I don't know about? Like, do I have to progress for a while before I can become "Undercover" or something? Maybe?
Also: Are rebel vehicles instant agro? AKA: Quad Bike? What about camo off-road pickups from roadblocks?

So I've been thinking a bit...and I've decided that I'm gonna share my ideas with y'all..
1- King and Queens: So we have kings right? What about queens? We need them too! So I say we have both King and queens.
2- Borders:We need borders for kingdoms! Like a big wall and then other kingdoms can destroy them. oh! And make it so that Archers can go on top.
3- Guns: Com'on! We need guns! WE ARE AMERCIA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸!! P.s. I'm not American. I get that your trying to go for a "Mediveal Style" but can't you just make a mode where it's modern times?
4- Maps: We need a template Earth map! It's so tiring of downloading them!
5- Mods for Mobile: I used to play worldbox on my phone before I upgraded to the PC and I never could get mods on my phone it was always so complicated! I say we add a Weekly Mods list on mobile (and PC) where you can download mods off there easily!
6- Family Tree: I feel like we should be able to see our little peoples familys..idk I just thought of it.
7- Addresses: Maybe if you add the Modern thing than you can add addresses so we know where our people live.
8- Marriage: Our people should get married! We should be able to see our peoples wife/husband!
9- Item Editor: There are mods for this but we need it for the base game! Being able to edit our peoples armour and weapons is needed! As well as Kingdoms we should be able to customise their recourses and etc!
10- Gods: We need gods to rule over our land! Maybe use actual ones or just make your own..
11- Relations: So we got Alliance, Netrual and war? Nahhh we need trade non aggressions AND MORE... And maybe if both King/Queens of a kingdom agree they can combine with other Kingdoms to create a bigger kingdom.
12- Ships: We need cargo ships for trading! And maybe spy ships as well!
13- Military: We should get better armour and Camo armour for the military! And maybe they can delovop there own Nukes! And they need Air support as well!
14- Businesses: Our people should set up shops in kingdoms and maybe they can go out of business or....set up more shops and get bigger! There should be a CEO For each company and each shop should have a manager! We should be able to customise them as well!
15- Genders: So right now in worldbox Genders dont matter.... Two guys can have a baby in worldbox! That's not the case in real life.. I feel like there should be some gender things which effect stats and traits....
That's all I can think of rn I'll post more ideas soon and if you do use one of these ideas then please shoutout my Reddit user it'll help a lot with my socials so.....Ty all!

Hello guys and gals
Looking for the best 1:48 Kit, I am relatively new to aircraft modelling but far from a modelling newcomer, mostly Tanks, Warhammer, Gundam/Mech stuff over the last 15 years or so, ideally looking for the best out of the box kit with good details and minimal aftermarket parts to boost it to the next level, I don’t mind getting some aftermarket parts since I will probably be looking for a masking template for the Swedish splinter camo so if anyone can help with that as well it would be massively appreciated.
I have heard that Italeri makes a good one but I’m not familiar with any other brands

Situation came up as a friend and I are re-learning N4 coming from late N3
He had a camo token (mine) completely inside a smoke which blocked LoS through a corridor
My mini walked across the corridor within the mine's ZoC and he declared that the mine triggers because mines do not require LoS
My argument is that a zero visibility zone provides total cover (nullifying its ability to trigger) his argument is that it does not because a smoke template is not a piece of scenery (see description of what causes Total Cover, and that mines trigger zone is not affected)
We've gone back and forth for a while now and just want to know which one of us loses the bet since there's no concrete examples either of us can point to. Especially given that RaW, direct template weapons only require LoS from a trooper (and explicitly do not from a deployable)
follow up question here, assuming smoke is a game element that counts as scenery, how does this interact with anti-material?

Hello to the beautiful people of CFB! Welcome to my ranking of the 2023 uniforms worn by Arizona State Football! I intend on ranking most of the Big XII teams and new PAC additions (Arizona, Colorado, and Utah) very soon, and I actually just ranked Oklahoma State a few days ago. If you are interested in my thoughts regarding the Big XII uniform season, check out my 2023 Season-in-Review Post or my recent 2023 Uniform Awards post, or OSU Cowboy Uniform Ranker, which are all three in my profile. If you want to go back further, check out my profile or check out these other 2022 posts: 2022 Uniform Awards and Big XII Uniform Tracker 2022: Season-in-Review. (Sorry for the hyperlink inconvenience, but Reddit hates when I put links in the top paragraph, for whatever reason.) Alright, let’s admire some absolutely debonair suits from ASU’s last PAC-12 season! El Diablos del Sol play some of my favorite Big 12 teams in 2024, so this will be a good precursor for some Big 12 fans who aren't as familiar with these desert dwellers. This ranking will feature some facts, stats, and history. Feel free to add on, disagree with my rankings or tell me if they hit home! I’m interested in hearing what you think, or in seeing how y’all would rearrange the rankings. All uniform comments are welcome here!
Season Gallery Link: https://imgur.com/a/eXCLv20
I’m u/matte_purple, and let's 3,2,1 go!
12. Maroon/Black/Black Week 2 vs OK-State (L, 27-15)
Link: https://imgur.com/n8nnFa3
There is a lot to like about this suit. I love how the helmet stripe features yellow and black on the maroon helmet, which provides that odd glowing ember color scheme. The same goes for the black pitchfork similarly outlined in yellow. The older template having the sublimated Arizona flag on the chest is a great touch. But I also don’t like other aspects of this suit. The texture is so strange, and looks almost like a heather sweater. It just doesn’t look particularly… athletic. This same color scheme would have looked great using the new suits template, sans the Arizona Flag design on the chest. I wish that would have stayed. An important caveat, I also see more recruiting photos using these uniforms than anything else, so it’s clear that people still like them. It’s just not quite my cup of tea.
11. Yellow/Maroon/Yellow Week 6 vs Colorado (L, 27-24)
Link: https://imgur.com/bKYcDNV
Definitely the workhorse look. This color scheme, which I will brag about here soon, is beautiful and one of the more common home combos ASU trots out. But gollee, I am not a big fan of a yellow face mask being worn here. Yellow, no matter what color it is matched up with, is always an easy color to add too much of. I would love to see a yellow facemask on a white helmet, but it's just so bold here. Regardless, I think the new, simplified jersey lends itself well here. ASU has had uniform updates in 2011 (Nike), 2015, (Adidas), and now the new 2023 Adidas look. A filled in pitchfork may have worked better, adding to the “too much yellow” problem up top. Conversely, I actually like removing the center helmet stripe for simplicity sake here. But alas, I can’t fault an otherwise traditional look.
10. Maroon/White/Maroon Week 11 vs UCLA (W, 17-7)
Link: https://imgur.com/Gp2uYu7
I really love the symmetry of this look. In fact, that’s the main reason I put this up so high. But just like the last rank, it’s all about the few things I don’t like being more glaring. In this instance, it's those dang pearlescent helmets. When the stadium lights shine on them, they create a pinkish hue all around the lid that feels weird. It’s not as much of a problem in a daytime or 4:30 kick, but during those infamous PAC-12 After Dark games, it comes off as a little ugly. The same color is replicated perfectly on their pants, cleats, and accessories, but the maroon-pink candy-shell - again - just feels completely off to me. Plus, the color choice for the logo feels off as well. Yellow would have been a better choice, or use a white outlined pitchfork instead of a filled in one. Again, I liked every single ASU combo in some capacity, but these ones just have those helmets that weird me out.
9. Maroon/Maroon/Maroon Week 4 vs USC (L, 42-28)
Link: https://imgur.com/PJiTUom
Affectionately called the “Maroon Monsoon” uniforms, these yearly suits strike a nice balance between aggressive and smooth, all thanks to the shade itself. The maroon in these suits is gorgeous. One piece throws that off, though. The candy-shell pearlescent helmets. It’s a real shame! If they could go back to a flat or even a matte paint job, I would be very pleased. These are accentuated greatly by the white outline around the numbers. While the pitchfork on the side of the pants decreases the versatility of the pants on various uniforms, I do like it when it’s paired with a similar looking logo on the lid.
8. Yellow/Maroon/Yellow Week 1 vs Southern Utah (W, 24-21)
Link: https://imgur.com/ggOYmAz
Here’s the rub: This color scheme paired with this combo is top notch, one of my favorites in college football, only matched by my pet projects OK-State, Texas State, and of course, my alma mater, KSU. Did you know the university’s choice of colors actually predates the Sun Devils moniker? Gold was chosen as the main color in 1896, picked for the mineral, sunshine, and golden opportunity that brought people to the AZ Territory in droves. In 1898, maroon and white were added to the scheme as part of the football team’s uniform. And I love it! It just screams Old West, speaks to the bad boy, “devil may care” reputation (see what I did there?) that the school’s athletic department has cultivated. It helps that it matches the colors of sunset on the Superstition Mountains, too. The only drawback to this look is its little details: there are differences in the gold shading through the entire uniform, the pitchfork and striping have that iridescent hue I don’t care for, and there’s an overall lack of anything identifying (mascot or school name on the chest, state flag was moved to the side-waist). I just need something other than a pitchfork and that out-dated “Sun Devils” wordmark on the side. I can see this look being way up on people’s lists, it’s just not as high on mine.
7. White/Maroon/Maroon Week 12 vs Oregon (L, 49-13)
Link: https://imgur.com/1tqLbye
The legend of Pat Tillman continues with this Salute-to-Service look. Pat was an ASU linebacker (1997 PAC-10 DPOY) who was later drafted into the NFL and eventually gave up a multimillion dollar AZ Cardinals contract to join the Army after 9/11. He and his brother serve as Army Rangers in Afghanistan. Sadly, while on a combat deployment to Afghanistan, Pat was killed by friendly fire in 2004. Pat’s enthusiasm and dedication to service inspires us as Americans to fight for what is right, but to do it in a manner that is equally as right. He asked questions and thought critically, and should be thought highly of for doing it. Moving on, I think this look is not just a great tribute (with his badge gracing the helmet logo, back-of-the-helmet sticker, and collar logo), but a sweet look as well. Replace the logo with Sparky or a pitchfork, and you have a look that is equally good. I especially like the digital camo stripe on the helmet. These remove the dreaded maroon helmets from the equation, maintain the sleekness otherwise found in the “Maroon Monsoon” look, and look patriotic. He’s got veteran’s centers named after him, multiple statues, and a scholarship fund in his name. Hopefully those resources and his story can inspire civilians, active military, and veterans to learn more!
6. White/White/Maroon Week 5 at Cal (L, 21-24)
Link: https://imgur.com/4lTkY6F
This is one of two uniforms that I couldn’t decide where to rank. They’ve spanned the list, topping out at 2, but this seems like the best place to put them. First, I’ll say that the maroon pants gives this a wonderfully brighter look than we normally get with ASU’s combos. When your color schemes tend to be marrons, yellows, and blacks, home looks are these color filled, ferocious suits. These are the complete opposite. The keep a tying thread of maroon through the uniform, culminating in an anchoring set of maroon pants. The only reason they aren't higher is because the white helmet doesn’t have a filled-in pitchfork logo. Having the maroon in outline only makes the uniform balance out near the bottom, instead of in the middle, where it should be. The maroon facemask helps in trying to bring more structure to the top, but a filled in pitchfork would really do the job. Almost the upper echelon!
5. Yellow/Black/Black Week 9 vs Wazzu (W, 38-27)
Link: https://imgur.com/J6fmW9y
“Legend tells of a vicious reaper, draped in black and gold, ascending from the depths of the Lost Dutchman Mine to claim the souls…” alright, I’ll quit! Originally slated to release in a big time night game versus Colorado, these “Ghost Story” uniforms ended up getting pushed back for scheduling reasons. They ended up getting worn - appropriately - on Halloween weekend. The look is wonderfully crisp and very clean by itself. My favorite fun aspect is that glow-in-the-dark trim gimmick. I don’t think the glowing really worked in the game, but it sure is good for social media. Overall, the suits looks slick. I think a white helmet shell with a yellow or maroon pitchfork might have looked good and lent itself more to a “ghostly visage,” but I like the identifiable yellow. The black pitchfork is an excellent, menacing touch, and is a pretty rare phenomenon, being sported about once a year (this game, 2021 vs BYU and at WSU most recently). These suits are templated exactly like ASU’s standard uniforms (complete with the gray sublimated Arizona flag on the sides, which really pops and gives a good example for what it should look like on other uniforms). These looked super good and fit the Halloween theme well. I loved them!
4. White/Maroon/White Week 3 vs Fresno State (L, 29-0)
Link: https://imgur.com/s9qURBG
This uniform had a lot of sway in my rankings. Originally, I ranked it second, then sixth, and now fourth. Why was there such a change? Well, I think it comes down to the use of Sparky on the helmet for me. They wore a yellow variant of this same helmet last year against OK-State, but I honestly just like full-body Sparky more. I know I’m in the minority on that, and most ASU fans prefer any Sparky rendition over the pitchforks, but that’s just my opinion. This is the highest I could rank it with my own standard. I do love the combo itself, especially how the symmetry pops with the white-outlined numbers. The players wearing maroon cleats get an extra gold star. Speaking of Sparky, how did ASU get their mascot? Well, like a lot of schools that started as “normal colleges” to instruct future teachers, they had an owl mascot from their founding in 1885 to the early 1920s. After that, they changed to a Bulldog, to help align themselves with professional and stately colleges like Yale. They stuck with it while playing in the Border Conference from 1922-1946, with universities like UTEP, Northern Arizona, Arizona, Texas Tech, New Mexico, and NMSU. After changing their name to “Arizona State College” in 1945, students and faculty felt they needed a change of identity. When a dust devil appeared on a clear, windy day before a jogging Donn Kinzle, ASU’s track coach, an idea was born. The rest is history!
3. Yellow/White/Yellow Week 10 at Utah (L, 55-3)
Link: https://imgur.com/H1q4Q6T
ASU wore a look similar to this in Week 13 of 2022 (the Territorial Cup game), but wore mostly maroon accessories and decals. This time, the Sun Devils went with a yellow and white color scheme that looked INCREDIBLE. Did you know, this yellow/white/yellow colorway has been the longest-used road uniform combination for ASU? The only way I can describe the color scheme is “Chargers-eqsue.” It feels electric. It feels tropical, almost. They maintain just a touch of maroon as to not feel like a different team, but stretch how far the scheme can go in being fun and unique. Both of these colors have a very light hue, and they use it to their best advantage. The white accents -specifically the facemask and pitchfork - really sell it for me. And honestly, this is a neat case where I think the look actually suits the Pitchfork better than Sparky! These are just spectacular, especially when contrasted against Utah’s all-blacks worn in the same game. Bravo indeed, Sun Devils!
2. White/White/White Week 8 vs Washington (L, 15-7)
Link: https://imgur.com/Q5TymF9
This look is the reason ASU brought back their white helmets for the first time in 3 years. Whiteout uniforms are very easy to get wrong, by either 1.) taking too much color off or 2.) keeping enough color to render the “whiteout” designation pretty much untrue. The Sun Devils hit the perfect color proportions on a damp night in Seattle, kept it simple and complemented a dark/heavy UW look with a crisp and clean white suit. There are enough splashes of maroon to keep the Sun Devils from looking generic, and the filled in pitchfork does wonders for coloring the helmet. Plus, they have that chrome finish on the maroon heavy base with gold accents, which really make the decals pop further, especially adding the center stripe. Speaking of the fork, the normally hated “leg pitchfork” on ASU’s pants actually helps the Sun Devils maintain an identity in all-white scenarios like this. This suit is plum GORGEOUS. Easily my favorite away look of theirs.
1. Yellow/Maroon/Yellow - Sparky Week 13 vs Arizona (L, 59-23)
Link: https://imgur.com/hkK07Ef
Here it is: the top dog. How can you not like this look? So many great players have come out of Arizona State while playing in this very same combo. It’s been ASU’s golden standard since 1980, when Sparky first showed up on a gold helmet, and it looks even better now. The simplified jersey, the white outline around the yellow font, and, of course, the classic Sparky logo on top with the single maroon stripe, gives us a uniform that lets its tradition, colors, and uniqueness do the talking. What a beautiful look. Sure it may seem cliche to put this here, but it’s a look as steadfast as Michigan’s winged helmets, Alabama’s numerals, Texas’ Longhorn, or Notre Dame’s golden look. And yeah, maybe their history is not as technically victorious as some of those other programs, but it does represent a fanbase who love their school. Football is all about tying yourself to a community and finding a collective identity. These suits do that well, because everyone knows the symbol of the Sun Devil. What a beautiful look, I hope we see more Sparky in the future. The people clamor for it!
Well, I think that does it! I hope you enjoyed my 2023 season Sun Devil Football uniform rankings. This season will build something great for Kenny Dilligham and his crew, and their uniforms will ensure that they look stylish in whatever they accomplish. I am incredibly excited to see ASU and our other PAC-12 additions in America’s best dressed conference (plus, it’s going to be a hell of a good time!). I’ll be slowly releasing more rankings for each of the Big XII teams as the offseason goes along. If you want a more in depth and dedicated Arizona State uniform database, check out ASU_Uniformity on Twitter, or on the Rivals website for ASU, where he keeps detailed reactions to cleats, gloves, helmets, and suits. He’s the man! And if you will, go look up the email for Mark Zimmer and Laura Foster of ASU’s FB Equipment team and tell them what a great job they do. The EQ staff of most every college program does very hard work and get little recognition, and it’s the least we can do as uniform nerds. Again, feel free to comment or message me with any suggestions or changes to the rankings! Do you think ASU should wear any other logo except for Sparky? Did your favorite suit seem properly ranked? Let me and all of CFB know! Have yourself a wonderful Monday, ride out the rest of the week in style! See you uniform fans soon!

Horus Heresy Book 7: Legion by Dan Abnett.
Last week, we stressed how little we enjoyed the book about one of the most secretive legions in a tale that does not follow on from the story of the Heresy so far.
This week, we would like to tell you how much we enjoyed the book about one of the most secretive legions in a tale that does not follow on from the story of the Heresy so far.
This is a tale of spies, plots, plots within plots, counter plots and counter plots within counter plots. Oh, and simultaneously there is a chaos vs guardsmen story going on. The Alpha Legion weave their way through the plot of the book but they really get a chance to shine in the last third as we find more about them and what else is going on in the galaxy.
“Respect be damned!’ said Namatjira. ‘What about strategy? How can I properly orchestrate a war if I don’t know what a part of my force is up to? The potential for contradiction and misunderstanding is unacceptable. It amounts to manipulation, and that’s the Alpha Legion’s trademark. I do not appreciate being played.’ He sat back down and stared thoughtfully at his pet. ‘It makes me wonder about this present fiasco. I do hope it’s not significant that the moment the Alpha Legion embroils itself in my affairs, things go to hell in a land speeder.’
We have received this coded message which appears relevant to the events of the book….
Synopsis:
How best can the war on Nurth be described? Fought at the time of the great Triumph of Ullanor, it should have been a simple campaign of compliance against primitive tribes but instead is constant insurgent warfare against nocturnal fighters and sky magics that cause havoc amongst the Imperial forces.
You may be aware of the Geno Five Two Chiliad? The elite regiment, bred for warfare and allowed to continue the methods they have previously used before Unification by the Emperor himself, struggled against the Nurth. Their massive male soldiers and female psyker officers cannot break the enemy's spirit and deal with their reptilian mounted cavalry. But there is far more going on in the battlefield than it seems….
Deception and secrets are everywhere. Geno leaders are kidnapped by Intelligence Specialists and are secretly working for them. John Grammaticus, a super psyker immortal augmented by xenos, disguised as Konig Heneker, assumes the identity of an Imperial spy, is fighting the Nerth but acting for a third party; the Alien Cabal. These Xenos are trying to forge an alliance with the Purple and Silver clad Astartes believed to be surreptitiously fighting against the Nurth. The Cabal believe they are the only ones who can deal with Chaos and prevent the fall of the galaxy to the Primordial Annihilator.
Rakshana, a love of John Grammaticus, is implicated in his plot and kidnapped too. The fighting continues, with massed attacks by the Nurth, which cause massive casualties on both sides. But the Nurth are quickly massacred and defeated.
A message from the Cabal is passed on to the Intelligence Services, by John Grammaticus. The Nurth have a ‘Black Cube’, an artefact which will burn the planet and kill everyone remaining. A planetary wide evacuation is quickly ordered giving the Imperial Forces a day to get off world. John Grammaticus leaves the planet under supervision of Imperial forces, heading to rendezvous with the Cabal.
Deep in space, for five long months, Grammaticus attempts to influence an Imperial agent, Soneka, ready to make him a weapon, when the Cabal finally arrive, through subtle psychic manipulation.
On the world of 42 Hydra Tertius, the Cabal has created a safe haven; amongst the acid rain and poisonous air rendering the rest of the planet inhospitable. Perfect for a secret meeting between potential allies, to share intelligence. John is made aware that now Horus is the Warmaster, making him desperate to bring the Cabal to talk to the Imperial forces he has been talking with.
Making planetfall, the Imperial Army secures the area. In orbit, the Lord Commander discusses a new ship, the Beta, escorting his fleet and wishes for more information about what is going on, having been kept in the dark by the Intelligence Specialists working within the fleet. He is unimpressed to learn his fleet has been manoeuvred based on no more than the ramblings of a Xenos spy but allows the operation to continue.
Increasingly desperate, John Grammaticus activates the secret phrase he placed in Soneka’s mind, activating him as a sleeper agent for John. They rescue Rakhsana from an interrogation chamber and descend to the planet in a drop pod.
Now concerned, the Lord Commander sends forces to try to work out what influence the Intelligence Specialists have had on the forces. His men realise at least two men of the Geno have been working for them instead….
After reaching the meeting point, Grammaticus finds the Cabal, who are ensuring they will be safe just in case the Imperials decide to ask questions second…. Unfortunately, Soneka was not really controlled by Grammaticus, but a double agent for the Intelligence Specialists, and activates a homing beacon.
Teleporting in, the Intelligence Specialists arrive, in full strength. They are…displeased to have been manipulated and are not prepared to be baited into a trap. Rukshana was a honey trap, planned to draw in Grammaticus and make him love her. They arrive at the meeting with the upper hand, and are in full control.
Understandably, the Cabal are scared and angry but they relay the information that they need to give. The Imperium is facing an incoming Civil War. A Heresy that will either lead to an eventual fall to Chaos, if the Emperor dies in the process of striking down Horus, or the extinction of Humanity, if Horus wins. The Cabal want Horus to win and doom Humanity. The Intelligence Specialists are distraught upon being told to side with the traitors and shown what will happen if the Emperor is victorious.
Still in orbit, the Lord Commander grows angry and prepares to report the Specialists to the Emperor and prepares to bombard the surface. But the Intelligence Specialists are prepared for this and attack, wiping out the Imperial Fleet in a stunning move. The Army forces are left abandoned as the hospitable environment is turned off…Grammaticus is left broken and plans to throw himself out the nearest airlock, hoping to die at last.
I could have sworn there was the Alpha Legion in this book but nothing in the synopsis. I'm sure that's not suspicious at all. There are no Alpha Legion in this book. None, zero, not a soul, none to be found.
Review: This is a deeply uneven book, but that is not a bad thing. The first two-thirds are about the war on Nurth, but all the actual events are squeezed into the last part. I feel this is deliberate; the war does not really, in the grand scheme of either the Imperium or the series, matter. It is a war of the little people; Imperial Army grunts versus primitive chaos worshipping tribesmen. If it was Gaunt’s Ghosts or, hell, even a World War 2 novel, it would fit in pretty well.
What really makes this book interesting is the plots and counter plots. Even before Grammaticus is sent to find the Alpha Legion, the Cabal has spent years dropping clues and hints to ensure the Alpha Legion will go to Nurth, so they can receive a demonstration of the damage Chaos can do when it has corrupted a culture.
John Grammaticus (the only character in Warhammer to be called ‘John’) gets a lot of hate (just this last week, a prominent Youtube Lorer made a video titled “I hate John Grammaticus”) but this time I found him to be an interesting and compelling character. He is a perfect spy, able to easily blend identities and be exactly what he needs to be, use the Jedi Mind trick and has set up plans and counter-plans. But he makes mistakes and in genuine fear of his life. The ending of the book is the result of him underestimating the skill and deception of the Alpha Legion and their agents. He does not realise the Nurth have him in their sights before the Alpha Legion pick him up. He dies before he can work with the Emperor at the start of Unification (he got better); had he worked with him, he might have been able to make more of a difference.
Interestingly, Grammaticus is the name of a teacher from Roman History. The second stage of education; focussing on language and poetry. Interesting that he can speak every language.
We find it interesting that the you expect the Cabal to want the Alpha Legion to side against Horus. Eldard in Fulgrim was desperate to warn him and let him know Horus is turning traitor. Here for 95% of the book, the Alpha Legion are loyalists and you assume the Cabal will be telling them the same thing. But no, in quite a twist, they are looking to recruit the Alpha Legion to Horus’ side. It is really shocking and not what you expect at all.
The fact that this is the first real description of the Alpha Legion and their lore is amazing. So much is laid down in this story; Omegon, the “noble” reasons for the fall to chaos, the plots and counter plots. It is all there and has been the template for the Alpha Legion ever since.
A quote from this book summarises the whole thing pretty well; “Pawns are never meant to perceive the game as a whole” - which I feel may sum up the whole of the Heresy.
Overall score: 8.5/10 - this is a fantastic book, with schemes and counter schemes. I honestly would like more esoteric and weird plots going on in this story. They are all explained by the end. Perhaps this is just because the Alpha Legion are not as flanderised and plot focused as they will be later. The first part is clearly Dan Abnett enjoying writing soldier grunt stories but the last third is something special and deeply enjoyable. This is a Horus Heresy book, not just a 40k book set in the past.
Cover: I like the single Alpha Legion Space Marine on the cover and the two rows of Geno troopers. Those are some glorious moustaches they are sporting, making them look very 19th century Russian. This does not appear to match a scene from the books but it still looks very impressive.
Heresy Watch: The Alpha Legion already knew about Chaos, pre-Hersey and even before the Cabal tried to send them a warning. They already had psykers in place to deal with Chaos. They know the Emperor stands against Chaos in all things. The Cabal forewarn the Alpha Legion about the Heresy and it makes it incredibly difficult to see exactly what motivated them from then on; were they trying to cause Horus’ victory or defeat? Are they loyalist, traitor or something else? It does parrellel the vision shown to Horus. The Alpha Legion are shown a vision of the grimdark future that they joining the fight will create….The Cabal and the Perpetuals become a recurring plot point through the Hersey from now on….Personally, we do not think the Cabal fully understands Chaos - the claim that Horus will be self-defeating due to his noble nature and will lead to Chaos infighting and destroying itself. But isnt that Chaos’ whole stick?
Legion Watch/Number of Book(s):
15/18 Legions named
Luna Wolves / Sons of Horus: 4 Emperor’s Children: 5 Blood Angels: 1 World Eaters: 3 Death Guard: 3 Imperial Fists : 2 Word Bearer: 3 Iron Hands: 1 Alpha Legion: 2 Night Lords: 1 Iron Warriors: 1 Salamanders: 1 Raven Guard: 1 Dark Angels: 1 White Scars: 1 The Emperor: 1 Ultramarines: 0 Space Wolves: 0 Thousand Sons: 0
The Alpha Legion disguise themselves in Purple and Silver armour - who the hell were they pretending to be? Even the Emperor’s Children are not that fabulous yet. It could be their own early Heresy armour or they could be wearing desert camo but we are not sure.
Tropes Watch: Are we the baddies?: 10 – The Alpha Legion prevent Bronzi from going out and potentially saving other Geno forces, because they intend to use them as bait to destroy a Nurth citadel. Just plots within plots within plots with those guys. After working for them, Bronzi has to make a similar plot and kill evacuating troopers who are trying to escape the massed Nurth attack.
The ending is superb and summed up with this great quote: Alpharius drew his boltgun. “Why?” shrieked Namatjira. “Why are you doing this?” “For the Emperor” said Alpharius, and pulled the trigger.
Its definitely not gay - 7: An Alpha Legionnaire questions Bronzi just as he is using the latrine: “Does someone like me need to threaten someone like you?’ the specialist replied. Bronzi narrowed his eyes. He was a lot of things, but timid wasn’t one of them. ‘Come on then, if you want some.’ The specialist chuckled. ‘I really admire your balls, hetman.’ ‘They were only out because I was taking a leak,’ said Bronzi.
How not to parent 101: 7 – I am struggling to think of one. Alpharius even cares for his mortal human agents (but will kill them without a second thought if he needed too). Potentially a minus point until the Alpha Legion massacre everyone at the end.
Erebus!!! 5 – Again, not really in this story. People have different agendas, but no-one is being evil for the sadistic fun of it.
Does this remind you of anything?: 7 – The insurgency on Nurth feels very much like the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (this book was written in 2008 at the height of the Afghan/Iraq occupation)
A bald spy, playing opposing sides against each other for the good of the galaxy. I cant not imagine Alpharius looking like Varys in power armour.

Hello CFB! Welcome football fans to the 2023 Big XII Uniform Tracker! Let’s all get together and celebrate this wild and bittersweet season. In this extra special edition, we’ll take part in one of my favorite segments: the Uniform Awards! I'll go over the suits, helmets, and teams that really stood out from the 2023 season in the Big 12, and maybe throw in some awards for our newcomers joining next year. If you want to see my broad thoughts on each Big 12 team’s seasons and uniforms, my 2023 Season Review post is linked below!
2023 Season-in-Review Post
Grab a cocktail, light up your celebratory cigar, and settle into your most regal chair. It’s time to celebrate a season well done! A round of applause, please, for our season winners!
I’m u/matte_purple, and let's 3, 2, 1 go!
On the Up and Up - Most Improved Uniforms: Baylor Bears

• 2nd Place: Kansas Jayhawks
• 3rd Place: Oklahoma State Cowboys
• Honorable Mention: Cincinnati Bearcats

Baylor is the clear number one pick here. Last year, the fanbase was apathetic towards the team and their uniform combos because they were so boring. The all green was worn 5 times last year, and a yellow piece was worn in one game during the 2022 season. While the team may have been a little disappointing this year, their uniforms were fun and took advantage of the 2019 update’s intended purpose: interchangeability. They added 3 new combos this year (including a fantastic Yellow/Yellow/Green combo, which was worn twice), added in a nice military appreciation helmet (we’ll see that later) and their annual Sailor Bear helmet looked great. I have no problem with the template itself, I’m just very glad we got to see more out of Baylor this year!
The Jayhawks refreshed their uniforms this summer to much fanfare and applause. KU was on this list last year, in first place actually, for finally beginning the process of getting rid of the KU wordmark in Trajan font - which was introduced way back in 2007. They also removed gray articles from their wardrobe, and replaced the silvery numbers of old with white or blue. But this year saw a much more substantial change. They replaced their uniforms entirely! Most notably, they added block KANSAS to the chest and redid the 2007 numbers for something timeless in the big block font. It’s reminiscent of the Gale Sayers era of Jayhawk Football, and when paired with those no-nonsense (albeit pretty standard) shoulder stripes we get a great new image for the new and improved KU. And that's just the standard suits. They introduced a new blackout alternate - aptly named “the Blackhawk” - which looked great and gave the fans some intrigue versus Illinois and Kansas State at home. Kansas only had two suits that were meh, and that's largely because they utilized the old red uniforms which will no doubt be redone this offseason.
What an update for the Cowboys from Stillwater. OK-State revamped their incredible uniforms from last year, which were last updated in 2016. The replaced the Nike Mach Speed look for the new Vapor Fusion/FUSE template, removed the slightly dated paisley design and carried over the best details. They kept the typeface developed in-house from 2019 ( it’s called “Cimarron” and looks wonderfully Western), while pairing it with the block numbers and striping from the 1980’s giving us that “Barry Sanders” feel. The 3 stripe-less pants, 4 separate jersey colors, and interchangeable logos on the helmet gives us a modern touch to a classic look while maximizing versatility. These are top notch. The only reason they weren’t higher is because some other teams went from decent to great, not excellent to fantastic. Add on a special edition homecoming suit, and the Pokes have some serious firepower.
Cincinnati was the last of the three new uniform updates in 2023. While it’s certainly an improvement, it just doesn't have that flash or pizzazz that some of the other new updates do. The big news, of course, being the transition from Under Armour “ArmourGrid” template to Nike’s The look is utilitarian in the best of ways. The removed the red and white “zipper” stripes across the upper chest of the jersey in lieu of a collar and shoulder trim, and added their famous C-Paw logo on the middle C in “Cincinnati,” on the center collar, on the pauldrons, the helmet (of course) and the side of the plain pants. I think it's a tasteful touch (even though there's a ton of them) that cuts through the cleanness and adds some identity. The red collar and shoulder trim pops well against their normal home blacks, and overall it's a much needed improvement from Under Armour. Not the best of the Big 12, but still good!
Renovation - Best Throwback: Texas Tech's 1960s Throwback

• 2nd Place: Jack Trice Legacy Uniform
• 3rd Place: Utah All-White Throwbacks
• Honorable Mention: OK-State Homecoming Uniform

Texas Tech RB legend Donny Anderson (aka the "Golden Palomino" ) was the inspiration for this throwback set. Donny received All-American honors twice (1964 and 1965) and was a three-time all-Southwest Conference halfback (1963–65). Anderson finished fourth in the 1965 Heisman race, is in both the Texas Tech AND College Football Hall of Fame, and had big plays in both Super Bowl I AND II for the Packers. The all-around legend wore something similar to this throwback in his Texas Technological College days (and it stretched on until the late 70s). Despite it being a tri-tone that I don’t normally like, I think these are so cool. They utilize the un-beveled Double T logo, incorporate the old school gray facemask, and have those plain white shoulder stripes that look sleek when they’re modernized. My favorite touches are the subtle grayed-out Double T patterns within the number and the vintage Masked Rider logo with the cursive “Texas Tech” script embroidered on the back collar. This was the only throwback worn by the Red Raiders this year, and if they can work the design into next year’s new uniform refresh, we’ll have a big winner on our hands. I was bearish on these at first, but the more I look at them, the more I like them. Great work!
Iowa State has a rich history. Either the first or second land grant university ever - depending on who you ask (and some semantics) - there are a ton of storylines in the big book that is the Iowa Agricultural College’s history. One of the most moving is the legend of Jack Trice. The grandson of slaves, Trice was a sophomore studying animal husbandry, who wanted to get an education to assist black farmers in the South after graduation. Jack joined the football team at 19 years old, and was the first Black player to take the field at Iowa State. In only his second collegiate showing against Minnesota - October 6,1923 - Trice got to stay at the same Minneapolis hotel as his teammates, but he could not eat with them in the dining room. That night, Trice wrote a moving letter:
“My thoughts just before the first real college game of my life. The honor of my race, family, and self are at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will! My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about on the field tomorrow. Every time the ball is snapped I will be trying to do more than my part.”
During the game, Trice sustained fatal injuries after he was trampled by three Minnesota players. Though he claimed he was fine, Trice was rushed to a hospital where he died from hemorrhaged lungs two days later. These uniforms were a part of the university and athletics department’s week-long celebration honoring the 100 year anniversary of Jack Trice’s death. Outside of the stadium, university officials gave Trice a posthumous degree in animal husbandry and unveiled another sculpture in his honor, adding to his name on the stadium, a foundation awarding scholarships in his honor, and other statues on campus. The football team honored Jack by wearing throwback uniforms featuring the five chevron bars that Trice and his teammates wore in 1923. The uniforms and “AMES” helmets (harkening back to the early 1900s when ISU teams were commonly referred to as "Ames") also featured “I will” in Trice’s handwriting from the letter he wrote the night before his last game. Sure, these may not be the sleekest or iciest alternate uniform out there. But the legacy and meaning more than make up for any perceived lack of style. After all, this throwback to the burgeoning days of college football looks pretty good. If they added a white pants alt, I could see these getting even more longevity. I’m sure the helmet will make an appearance again, as it’s the best helmet they’ve worn since 2007.
Utah’s throwbacks may not have a single inspirational story behind them like these other looks, but they definitely deserve a spot on the podium for style alone. They offer plenty of details from a multitude of uniforms including: The interlocking UU logo on the helmet and pauldrons from the 1960s; Stripes on the legs and shoulders dating back to the 1970s; and my favorite touch, font brought back from the 1980s and 90s. The font is such a far cry from the normal “it’s a throwback so we’ll put block numbers” call. The red on all-white makes the details pop, and man I guess Under Armour can pull off a throwback. It’s an excellent showcase for many of the “good” uniform aspects Utah has worn in the past. I’ll admit, I wasn’t privy to a lot of Utah FB history at the start of the season, but these uniforms have made me want to learn, like all good throwbacks should.
Oklahoma State always has great uniforms, but what I love most is their ability to bring the past to life in unique ways. Why isn't this look ranked higher? Well, it's only a semi throwback. The uniforms are new, but draw from classic designs, and don’t feel vintage so much as classic. The helmets are the same story. They have older elements, most notably the logo, but it just isn’t a throwback as much as an homage. But, there was also a notorious lack of real throwbacks this year, so I felt they deserved a spot. I’ll give a brief rundown of the history, but if you want more, go to2023’s Big 12 Week 9 Unitracker Post, linked here or on my profile. Frank B. Eaton was an average Kansas kid who saw his father gunned down by a Confederate gang in 1867, when he was 7 years old. After being trained to shoot by his uncle, Moses, and learning the art of the quick draw in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma, he became “Pistol Pete,” one of the fastest pistoleers in the West. After tracking down and killing the 5 men who were involved in his dad’s death, Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton worked with famous lawmen like Isaac “the Hanging Judge” Parker and Sheriff Pat Garret (who killed Billy the Kid), met other famous outlaws like Bell Starr, put 11 notches on his gun, and eventually settled down in Perkins, OK. In 1923, Eaton led an Armistice Day parade in Stillwater while student committees looked to change mascots away from the Tigers. The students spoke with Eaton, and “Pistol Pete” agreed to be the living mascot for Oklahoma A&M. The rest is Oklahoma State history! These uniforms celebrate “The Year of the Cowboy,” or the 100th anniversary since Frank B. Eaton took the role of mascot at OSU. The ‘Wooly Chaps Pete” on the helm is one of the logos OK-State put out in 1984, and his signature graces the back bumper. It’s a touching tribute to a very well loved and respected man. I would have liked black pants with this look instead of a tri-color, but I still love it!
Changing up the Wardrobe - Best Alternate: Houston's Oiler Homage

• 2nd Place: Space U in Canaveral Blue
• 3rd Place: KU's "BlackHawk" Uniform
• Honorable Mention: WVU's "Country Roads" Part Two

It’s historical. It looks incredible. The striping and coloration? PERFECT. The Houston Cougars released a heater on Week 1 of the regular football season, and it was a stunner. These Houston Oilers inspired uniforms are a tribute to the rich history of a football-mad city, not a reminder of a franchise leaving a fan base behind. It's a shame the No Fun League issued a cease and desist to Houston for the color scheme (even though Rice also has an Oilers “throwback” that didn’t get in trouble). I really hope these come back. The fan and player reaction alike was phenomenal, they were a far cry from anything Houston normally wears, and - of course - they looked good as gold.
UCF has brought us a very close second. The University of Central Florida has become well known for their moniker of “Space U.” And the stats behind the nickname are quite impressive. I won’t give an exhaustive list (because it really is quite long), but here’s some tidbits: UCF was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with the goal of educating eventual personnel for the U.S. space program at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. UCF is still the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry. There are 181 students and researchers who graduated from UCF currently working on 695 separate NASA projects, as of last November. These include microgravity, searching for exoplanets, extraterrestrial habitation, finding water on other celestial bodies, improved rocket systems, and countless other practical and theoretical applications. Most importantly, UCF alumni are involved in revitalizing the Artemis program, which should send astronauts to the moon once again. This year's Mission VII (their seventh continuous year with a space game) theme was “New Horizons.” Honoring not just an expanding frontier in NASA and the Artemis program, but also UCF’s own growing horizon in Big 12 competition, these suits have detail and style a plenty. First, the notable canvas of Canaveral Blue was much lauded by viewers. Add on custom touches of the “Space U” wordmark above the curved numbers, which mimics the trajectory of rocket launches as seen from campus, a reflective gray outline that represents the “night glow” in the upper atmosphere, and a smattering of stars in the Pegasus wing pattern on the shoulders, on the leg stripe, and in the outlined UCF on the helmet. Those stars and the clever use of a rocket launching into space on the pant legs - which doubles as a Knight’s sword - are my absolute favorite touches. It feels like these are the fantastical, sleek version of UCF’s normal hyper futuristic, realism-oriented space outfits. These are definitely in the top 3 of UCF’s 7 Space U alternates. The color has shock value, every choice has an explanation, and it honors men and women in science. What more can you ask for?
I tell you what, a blackout uniform was not on my bingo card for KU in 2023. I was completely surprised when these showed up in Week 2 against Illinois. I was even more surprised when I realized I like them. Blackout uniforms are a real head scratcher for most teams. One, most teams that release them don’t use black as an official color, making for an odd scenario. Two, the popular 2008-2012 fad of “black for black’s sake” put a negative spin on every team’s alternate (and believe me, it felt like every school had one). Three, much like all-white uniforms, blackouts tend to be devoid of identity. KU has worn black in the past, in a November 2012 showing with white helmets, but these seem to be the exception and an improvement on those. The liberal use of red and blue, the circus font wordmarks, that eye-catching blue facemask, and the small identity details like the KU Battle Flag on the back collar and 1941 “Warhawk” logo on the shoulders and helmet set this apart nicely. I especially like the circus font and striping, but I wish it was the full Warhawk logo, not just the head.
The Mountaineers brought back this icon from its release last year, with a few major tweaks. What was originally just a one-time look has grown into a fan favorite with multiple options. While the same premise from last year remains (the “Cue Country Roads” sublimated roadmap, WVU state outline incorporation, and bolder striping), they instead changed the colors from primarily white and blue to a home variant with gold and blue. It’s definitely a good change! It became my favorite WVU uniform this season, but it’s not quite a “new alternate,” more of a switch up of an already existing alt, hence its honorable mention status. There's a great balance of gold and blue here. It's modern without looking corporate, and feels very genuine and true to the state of West Virginia. Great look!
Shiny Buckets – Best New Helmet: 2023 Space U Lid

• 2nd Place: AMES Jack Trice Helmet
• 3rd Place: WVU State-Outline Helmet
• Honorable Mention: TCU’s Horned Frog Standalone

We’ve already heaped praise on the Space U uniforms from this year, so I’ll keep my comments brief about my 1st Place pick. UCF looked magical in their Canaveral Blue suits, but a helmet of the same shade would have felt like too much. So instead, they topped off their suit with a crisp white helmet adorned with a star-speckled “UCF” outlined in black and a back helmet stripe mimicking the same “Rocket-Sword” design found on the uniform’s pant stripe and collar logo. The chrome facemask really sells me on it, too. It's outstanding that the entire uniform was distilled into a helmet that can stand on its own, look wise. A very impressive showing for UCF!
Similar to UCF, we’ve admired the alternates brought to us by Iowa State enough, so I’ll stick to the basics. These revamped “AMES” helmets bring viewers back to the early 1900s when ISU teams were commonly referred to as "Ames.” The all-white helmets feature an “I will” in red in Trice’s handwriting on the back bumper, and the gray facemask not only complements the gray chevrons on the jersey, but stands nicely on its own and adds a touch of vintage to an already great lid. I love it.
WVU had two new helmets this year. One was obviously the blue state outline logo helmet that accompanied the “Cue Country Roads” home alternate, and the other was the white-shelled state outline lid worn twice this year. I picked the white version because it feels more versatile than the former helmet. Don’t get me wrong, the “Country Roads” helm with the sublimated road map, on-point striping, and sweet logo is incredible. But there’s something about the crispness of the white shell sporting the blue West Virginia state outline and the bright yellow Flying WV logo; they just pop so perfectly! The no-stripe complements the all-white and White on Blue away combos both AND added a rarely seen blue facemask (usually WVU goes for a black or white facemask). These just feel like solid workhorse helmets that have a good ratio of WVU’s colors. No frills, but super classy. Like a crisp navy business suit with no tie.
TCU had several new helmets this year; they had this one, the first new one of the year (plus two other shell colors) and the annual Bloody threads helmet. Why does this one stand out? One, I love the white shell. It’s so professional, clean, and makes the purple in this particular uniform combo pop. The helmet itself pops against the black jersey. Two, I LOVE that they removed the TCU letters from the logo on this one. Similar to Arkansas or KU, the Horned Frog is an incredibly unique college mascot. The logo itself does not need the additional identifier of “TCU”. It’s the same reason I liked last year’s “Sooner Slayer” helmet (which you can find in the 2022 Awards post pinned to my profile). Lastly, that tiny pop of red on the eyes is the perfect cherry on top. Why didn’t I put the bloody threads helmet up here? Because it’s entirely reliant on the rest of the uniform AND they added those weird “frogskin” lines sublimated on the shell. I love the old school logo on top, but it just felt like a weaker version of a normally strong Blood Threads alternate. A great honorable mention for TCU.
Gridiron Runway - Best Conference Matchup: BYU vs Texas

• 2nd Place: OSU vs OU (Bedlam)
• 3rd Place: WVU at Oklahoma, Week 11
• Honorable Mention: Farmageddon - K-State vs ISU

Well hot damn! This Week 9 contest was to die for. While the game itself was a little lopsided, the uniforms looked just right. Each of the team's three pieces had a direct contrast, producing complementary colors. The burnt orange against the deep navy, all tied together by crisp white, made both relatively muted colors jump out at you. BYU obviously loves their royal blue standard, but sometimes it’s nice to see variety! The navy is a wonderful departure from the regular, feels more vintage than it really is, and was paired perfectly against the Longhorn’s slimmed down suits that were altered slightly in 2022. It's a matchup of elegant simplicity. Neither team changed logos or striping to break the mold, and yet it turned out beautifully. Easily my favorite matchup from this season.
They were in here last season, and they placed again: Bedlam continues to be a fiery one. Last year, we saw OK-State rock their Orange/White/Orange Cursive Cowboy suits against OU’s standard home threads, which placed 2nd in this same category (see my other pinned post in my profile for those awards). This year, they swapped, with OSU donning a foreboding Black/Black/Orange combo - also with the Cursive Cowboys logo - against the Sooner’s mostly white road suits, which haven’t changed much since the 1930s. It's a classic case of traditional vs novel modernism. The Cowboy’s new 2023 uniforms made things a little less busy past templates AND added a little retro flair, but the rivals are still pretty dichotomic when it comes to the uniforms. The symmetry of B/B/O and Red/W/W is an added bonus. This just feels right. I really hope we see Bedlam in the future, despite the conference shake-up.
The Mountaineers continue to make rounds. This Week 11 matchup hit hard because of the monochromatic, almost black and white feel. But this time, it had a twist. WVU perfectly paired their whiteouts against OU’s anthracite “Unity” alternates for a refreshingly novel matchup. WVU relaunched their new cleaned up state outline helmet to great effect, and the small detailing of blue vs crimson feels right. Also, if you look closely, you’ll see that OU has a similar state outline of Oklahoma on their pauldron. This is a rare occurrence of OU’s alternates being used to scratch an itch that the standard uniforms just wouldn’t have got to. Both of these uniforms are fine when apart, but putting them better easily slots them in at 3rd place.
This may seem like a bit of KSU favoritism for the honorable mention, but I only need to say two words to get everyone on my side: SNOW GAME. Who doesn’t love a snow game? Seeing that purple and silver gleam in the wintery weather should make any Big 12 game happy. Plus, Iowa State’s kinda-camo away uniforms also did a good job. The red accents really jump out at you when the field is all white. (It’s worth mentioning, as I type this, Abu Sama III just ran for another 70+ yd TD). What a way to end the regular season. Although, I do wish the Cyclones would have worn their new “AMES” helmets, just to go full on polar bear. Regardless, this was a gorgeous, frozen game to behold.
Friends from Out West - Best Newcomer Uniform Team: Arizona State Sun Devils

• 2nd Place: Utah Utes
• 3rd Place: Colorado Buffaloes
• Honorable Mention: Arizona Wildcats

Arizona State was a part of Nike’s flagship uniform crew that included Oklahoma State, Wazzu, Kentucky, TCU and Wyoming in 2011. That really gave the Sun Devils a jump start on the modern trend of using lots of alternates, switchups, and logos. They refreshed their uniforms this past summer, but kept the same versatility mantra in mind during the season. They wore their older suits twice early on in the season, but moved on to what most have said is a sleek and tasteful use of some pretty intense colors. Add on new white helmet shells that haven’t been worn regularly since 2019 (and one worn in 2020), and you’ve got a recipe for a badass uniform rotation. Sparky is iconic, the color scheme just radiates “Southwest,” the trident is decent, and a couple neat alternates (like the glow-in-the-dark “Ghost Story” alts from Week 9) make this team fun to track. They are easily my favorite uniform team of the newcomers. Who knows, though? Definitely subject to change.
The Utes from SLC, Utah have some of the better Under Armour templates I’ve seen. Contrast these to teams like, say, Texas Tech. The coloration is clean. The stripes aren’t wild or adventurous while still feeling different. There’s a subtle use of gray as an accent. The classic and recognizable logo (akin to a certain Double T) is kept simple and uncomplicated. And that’s just their regular uniforms. Utah wore alternates 4 (5 if you want to count the painted helmet) times this year, including their “Ute Proud” suits, and two throwbacks (2 away showings, one home). While I’m honestly not a huge fan of Utah’s hand-painted helmets trend, these ones were received well. The talking point that gets me most excited for Utah’s uniforms are, of course, the throwbacks. I’m very interested to see if anything is different coming into their inaugural Big 12 2024 season.
Colorado had a decent showing, and we all know Coach Prime values style, but most of these uniforms felt like they were hodge-podged together from different templates and sets from days past. It doesn’t help that they still wear Nike’s “Flywire” fabric (check the center collar for proof). There were definitely some bright spots, though! Their 2023 opener versus TCU found a little later is a testament to that. Mostly, I’m more excited for what they bring to the table uniform wise next year. Deion Sanders has already confirmed new uniforms are coming to the Buffs before the 2024 season, and boy am I excited for them. With their history, tradition, and a bonafide debonair dresser as coach, you know CU has an opportunity to impress. Watch out!
Arizona slid in at the honorable mention spot not because they have bad suits; on the contrary, their uniforms are very stylish. I just feel like Arizona is a team that tried the uniform experiment and decided to go the traditional route. Their “Desert Swarm” revamps from the Dick Tomey era are still going strong, but apart from those and the variance that comes with them, they just don’t really do alternates. Their lone exception was a military tribute that I thought was touching. Stylish and consistent, but nothing extraordinary. Same as how I feel about OU, Arkansas, or BYU. We’ll see if they do anything wild in 2024. I do like the mismatched striping, though. That is a touch that should remain the “Arizona thing.”
Yikes! - Worst Conference Matchups: The Revivalry - Baylor at TCU

• 2nd Place: WVU vs TTU Week 4
• 3rd Place:Texas Tech at Kansas
• Honorable Mention: BYU Blackout vs ISU

Holy acid trip, Batman! Whatever the expression is for the opposite of “feast for the eyes,” that's what this was. Both of these uniform combos were highly anticipated by both fanbases, and hell, I was excited for them, too! But they chose the absolute worst game to put them together. Anthracite, purple, red, green, yellow, and white sounds like the colors you see in an oil slick. Man, I had such high hopes for these uniforms individually. Especially the cool TCU horned Frog logo. Let's move on, it’s too painful.
The Mountaineers wore all-yellow against a white-and-red team. This just kind of felt like a Heinz commercial to me, with lots of mustard and a little bit of ketchup. There were times when it worked on the field and times where it definitely didn't, so I was left going back and forth. Plus, TTU just cannot rock a red helmet while the Bevel T stays red. A weird game, to be sure.
Kansas fumbled this one HARD. After upsetting the Sooners in their brand-spanking new uniforms and wearing a solid updated suit in their win against the Cyclones in Ames, they decided to bring back their out-dated red uniforms against Texas Tech. In doing so, they reminded fans of the old Big 12 basement-dweller out there, not the Jayhawk squad that had just been tearing up the conference. Plus, the Blue/Red/Blue combo felt especially weird - almost like 3D glasses. This game could have looked spectacular with a mostly blue suit versus Tech’s all white. This was a weird move backwards for KU, but was quickly remedied. Hopefully we’ll see a red update this summer.
Not as bad as the others, but isn’t it ironic that the team normally known for wearing controversial blackout uniforms played against a team that wore an inexplicable blackout uniform? BYU already has such a recognizable color that using it on a blackout look feels almost wasteful somehow. At least last year’s version had a gradient (which I still didn’t like). Black just doesn’t suit the Cougars.
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Far from Regular – Best Non-Con Uniform Matchup: Baylor vs Texas State

• 2nd Place: TCU vs Colorado
• 3rd Place: Arizona State vs Washington
• Honorable Mention: WVU vs UNC (Mayo Bowl)

As we are nearing the end, I thought it would be fun to look at some of the matchups against non-Big 12 opponents we saw in the conference, and wow, we had some great ones.
Baylor vs Texas State in Week 1 was a hell of a game. The same matchup last year resulted in a hard loss for the Bobcats, and they clearly used that blowout as a motivator, starting the 2023 season by punching the Bears in the mouth. The 2022 matchup -which slotted in at #2 last year - also started my pet project for Texas State. I’ve become a huge fan of their EQ team and uniforms (especially their use of gold and black as accents to that beautiful maroon and white). This particular game saw both teams’ best uniforms. Baylor wore a brand new combo that looked gorgeous, and contrasted the yellow nicely, while the green pants paired with TXST’s maroon bottoms. The use of gold, again, really does the trick. It’s not meant to be flashy or in your face, but adds that extra pizzazz to an already stellar look.
Speaking of gold, Colorado wore one of my favorite “icy-white” combos of the season, incorporating a healthy amount of gold leaf to their logo and jersey numbers. TCU challenged the look with some classy use of silver on the Horned Frog logo and collar accents, and of course rocking that deep purple that I love so much. If Colorado can replicate something like this in their new 2024 suits, they will have struck gold (ha! Get it?)
While not an out-of-conference game for the Big 12 per se, this uniform clash definitely felt good enough to medal at the podium. I mean come on! In the first year after a hiatus from white helmets, the Sun Devils drop this heater of a helmet against Washington's purple chrome alternates? I’m in love. The gold used by the Huskies would have fought hard with any yellow worn by ASU, so they kept it simple and complemented a dark heavy UW look with a crisp and clean white look. There are enough splashes of maroon to keep the Sun Devils from looking generic, and the filled in trident does wonders for coloring the helmet. Speaking of the trident, the normally hated “leg trident” on ASU’s pants actually helps the Sun Devils maintain an identity in all-white scenarios like this. Curse you, ASU for proving me wrong! Damn, this was gorgeous. Also, Washington definitely should have worn this alternate again in an encore at some point. What a beautiful matchup.
Obviously, WVU has impressed me this season, and I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about them, so I’ll instead talk about those dashing argyle designs worn by UNC! I loved the interposing of sleek argyle geometric Carolina blue against the swirling, curved, almost chaotic yellow and dark blue of WVU’s sublimated road design. The lightness of the blue and white makes this combo feel almost airy, and the black outline of the black numbers adds just a touch of edge. Both are perfectly emblematic of each school and complemented each other in the best of ways. The perfect way to round out our categorical awards.
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Drumroll please... The moment you’ve all been waiting for!
Best of the Best - Big XII 2023 Uniform Team of the Year: Oklahoma State Cowboys

• 2nd Place: WVU Mountaineers
• 3rd Place: Baylor Bears
• Honorable Mention: Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas! I have a love-hate relationship with these uniforms, because a K-Stater like me can’t stand the idea of admiring anything KU. But here we are. The Jayhawks refreshed their suits to better declare “We are in a new era,” and not just of KU Football, but Big 12 ball as a whole. They kept it simple, had fun with some alternates, ditched the KU “trajan” font and embraced the fan’s opinions and ideas. KU Football EQ Manager Darren Hain should be proud. These uniforms look great, but there were just a few too many odd moments to put them in the top 3 for me. Still a fantastic season for the Jayhawks! I bet we’ll see a refreshed red jersey in the future.
In 2019, Baylor introduced a uniform refresh that - while a little pedestrian - promised versatility and interchangeability in their suits. That hasn’t really been experimented with until this year. After hearing Baylor fans complain about how “We only ever wear all-green!” game after game in 2022, 3 new color combos (including my favorite Yellow/Yellow/Green), 2 fun alternate helmets, and a spaced-out usage of their all-green workhorse look felt like cool water on a hot Texas day. The simplified design lends itself so well to unique options, and they had a great balance of variety and tradition. I’ll be honest, watching the Bears was rough at times, but these uniforms made it all worth it! A much-improved year for Baylor, at least threads-wise. Here’s to some hopeful alternates in 2024! Great work!
WVU may not have been as flashy with their new releases as some other teams, but their two new helmets, one new uniform, handsome use of gray, wide variety of combos, and overall insight into contrasting colors during matchups made for one hell of a fashionable season. It seemed like the Mountaineers felt their swagger on the field, and played like it, too. Dan Nehlen and Kyle Keesler of the WVU Football EQ team should be very proud of their efforts off the field. If WVU continues their magnificent attention to detail and style, we may see them take down the top spot soon.
Ok, here it is. I know the Pokes won first place last year, but there’s honestly no way I can put someone else up there. OK-State took their already award-winning fan favorite uniforms and updated them further. They removed everything that appeared dated, added some traditional elements while keeping an edge, and maintained a beautiful color consistency. Uniform variety is fun, but so is tradition and brand recognition. Oklahoma State always does an incredible job of honoring the brand while also fostering an engaging variety. Recruits want combos and recognition, fans want to feel involved and listened to, and it seems like both recruiting and fan engagement goes up when uniforms are involved. Plus, the adage remains true: “look good, play good.” No one should be afraid of looking their best or being proud that their favorite team looks their best, or just talking about how their favorite team looks, and OK-State gets it right 99% of the time. I have two gripes with the uniforms, and it’s that the template puts the chest wordmark slightly too low, and the cinched sleeves keep slipping off the pads. That's it! OK-State continues to bring it every week, especially with these brand-new uniforms. Congrats to the Cowboys for another fantastic and fashionable season and enjoy the prestige of being the 2023 Big XII Uniform Team of the Year!
And just like that, I’m all finished up! 2023 in uniforms is officially over, and the 2024 offseason is upon us. Thank you for indulging my hobby with the Big XII’s uniforms, regardless of if you’re a casual lurker or a hardcore uniform enthusiast. Your comments are appreciated, and I love the feedback I've received over the past few months. I hope I could brighten your day, or at the very least pique your interest. Enjoy yourselves, stay warm out there, and keep an eye out for individual team uniform rankings in the coming months! See you soon, in America’s best dressed football conference!