Tim Warner/Getty Images
One part of what makes college football fun is the variety of helmets that programs across the country wear. Some programs may go a bit overboard with the amount of different looks they have, and others stick to the classics (hello, USC). We ranked all ‘Power 4’ helmets plus Notre Dame, the Pac-12 leftovers, and a few lower-tier programs that couldn’t be left out. Tell us how you would rank the College Football Helmets.
79. Indiana Hoosiers
Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana has had some dreadful helmets throughout its history. The current look is fine, but it is easily the weakest option in the Big Ten. In my mind, there is a gulf between the bottom-2 and the rest of the league. The glossy red is a nice look, but the use of a black facemask really hurts the overall look of the helmet. The black accents on the uniform take away from what is an otherwise solid look. There is a ton of room for improvement.
78. Boston College Eagles
Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Penn State pulls off the non-logo look, as does Notre Dame. However, we are not high on Boston College’s plain helmet. While we wouldn’t enjoy BC drawing inspiration from the Philadelphia Eagles, we do feel as if some form of a logo would help the team’s overall look. The gold shell and maroon facemask just aren’t cutting it — resulting in the Eagles ranking last in the ACC.
77. Virginia Cavaliers
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
In our minds, there is a pretty big gulf between Boston College at No. 78 and Virginia at No. 77. Most of the time, the Cavaliers don a navy shell that features their recognizable logo — a ‘V’ above crossed orange swords. In the photo above, we believe both teams would look better if they opted for their other helmet. The rival Hokies look much better with a maroon shell, while we enjoy Virginia’s white alternate helmet.
76. Cincinnati Bearcats
Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
With Texas and Oklahoma no longer in the conference, the Big 12 lost its two biggest brands and its two best helmets. The Big 12 has seen a ton of change in recent years and it will welcome four new members for the 2024 season. Cincinnati will be entering its second year in the conference, and unfortunately, the Bearcats have the weakest helmet amongst the 16 teams. The Bearcats’ three most worn helmets all feature the C-Paw logo. The team switches between a black, white, and red shell — we think the black is the best of the group — but they’re all a bit uninspired.
75. UCF Knights
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Like Cincinnati, UCF will be entering its second season in the Big 12 in 2024. UCF has embraced college football’s uniform arms race and has had varying levels of success. We have no qualms with the gold primary helmet (above), but we prefer a few of UCF’s other looks. The black helmet featuring the Knighthead logo is slick. A few of the space-themed helmets have also looked great. With that being said, the primary gold shell and a majority of the white helmets leave a lot to be desired.
74. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The current helmet worn by Rutgers might be the best one in program history. While there are far worse helmets around the country than the Scarlet Knights’ primary lid, there are also 16 better options in their conference. Rutgers holds a slight advantage over Indiana due to the white facemask. The contrast of the mask and the shell is a better look than Indiana’s black facemask/red shell combo. A decent look, but far from spectacular.
73. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Tech doesn’t play around much with its helmets. The Red Raiders’ most utilized look is the one seen in the photo — a black shell with a black facemask and the classic Double T logo. Tech will wear a white helmet with the Double T and occasionally dons a red shell, as well. The program unveiled some truly horrid alternates in the 2010s, but, thankfully, it has largely stuck to the trademark Double T in recent years.
72. Louisville Cardinals
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville’s helmets don’t get the job done. The Ville coming in at No. 72 may surprise some people, but their helmets are just mediocre at best. The team seemingly wears a new shell every other week — and a majority of the looks miss the mark. The best helmet option includes an old-school logo that features Louie the Cardinal giving a stiff-arm. If Louisville adopted that look full-time, it would climb the ranks.
71. Purdue Boilermakers
Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
I want to like Purdue’s helmet options…but I don’t. The familiar gold shell featuring the block ‘P’ remains the best option. The team has donned a handful of black lids over the past few seasons — one features train tracks for the helmet stripe — but most of those options fall flat for this writer. There is nothing inherently wrong with Purdue’s look, it’s just not among the elite teams in the country.
70. Northwestern Wildcats
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
When two teams in the same conference feature a ‘N’ on their helmet, we have a problem. Northwestern’s purple shell is very nice. Unfortunately, the ‘N’ is a swing and a miss. The Wildcats have had a few nice moments in recent years, but they are largely an afterthought in the conference. Some of the program’s alternate helmets have been quite nice — but the primary purple shell with the white ‘N’ is far from special.
69. Syracuse Orange
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Later in this piece, you will read about a team that nails the chrome helmet look. Syracuse attempted to hop on the chrome trend in the mid 2010s and it failed miserably. Thankfully, the program has stayed away from the chrome orange shell since 2018. Syracuse has three solid helmet options — led, of course, by the orange shell. The Orange look good when they don their navy helmet, accompanied by an orange ‘S’, as well as when they sport their white shell. For a team ranked No. 69, the Orange have a rather solid look.
68. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Yellow Jackets have leaned heavily into their white helmet in recent years. There is nothing wrong with the helmet. The gold ‘GT’ logo and gold/navy helmet striping pair well with the lid. However, the gold shell is simply better. Georgia Tech also should think about introducing an alternate helmet with a logo featuring Buzz (the mascot).
67. Oregon State Beavers
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
College football’s era of realignment has left Oregon State behind (for now). In 2024, the Beavers and Washington State will be the only teams in the Pac-12. It’s a shame to see, especially with how competitive the Beavers have been recently. For now, however, let’s look at their helmet. The primary black shell featuring an orange beaver head is fine. The old logo that the team rocked throughout the 2000s was better, but this is still a pretty menacing beaver.
66. Houston Cougars
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
If the Cougars decide to go full-Houston Oilers and embrace the glorious color scheme of the past, they will be much higher on this list. For now, however, they come in at No. 66. Houston’s primary shell is quite nice. The red shell pops and the white ‘UH’ logo and facemask are a nice contrast. We aren’t fans of Houston’s white helmets — other than the Oilers-inspired look — and wish the team would stick with the red shell full-time.
65. West Virginia Mountaineers
Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Like a majority of the teams in college football, the Mountaineers have dabbled with alternate helmets in recent years. However, the team has largely stuck with its primary helmet — and we think that is a wise decision. WVU’s navy shell with the yellow logo is very nice. The team has introduced a new shell that may be even better, a navy shell with an outline of the state of West Virginia in yellow and nifty striping down the center of the helmet to boot.
64. California Golden Bears
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
California’s helmet is simple but effective. ‘Cal’ in gold script on a navy shell — it doesn’t get much simpler than yet. While we enjoy their primary look, the Golden Bears would vault up this list if they wore their alternate helmet on a permanent basis. In recent years, Cal has brought back an all-yellow helmet that the team donned in the 1970s. Featuring an old-school ‘C’ logo, the helmet would be amongst the best in the nation if worn every week.
63. Iowa State Cyclones
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
We are not sure how to feel about Iowa State’s primary helmet. On one hand, the red shell/facemask looks good when paired with a red or white top. On the other hand, the helmet becomes overwhelming when the Cyclones don their mono-red uniform. We enjoy the black and white helmet that the team has trotted out a few times per season, but our favorite may be the white shell/red facemask combo.
62. Virginia Tech Hokies
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s get this out of the way — Virginia Tech should wear its maroon helmet every game. Recently, the Hokies have worn a white shell for a good chunk of their games. While the helmet isn’t bad, it pales in comparison to the iconic maroon shell. The one thing we enjoy about the white helmet is the maroon/orange helmet striping. Otherwise, the maroon lid is superior in every facet.
61. Kentucky Wildcats
Bob Self/Florida Times-Union/USA TODAY Sports
Every team in the SEC has a strong helmet. The same can’t be said for other conferences, and that makes ranking the 16 SEC teams rather difficult. Kentucky comes up short this time around. The Wildcats’ primary helmet is fine — the blue shell with ‘UK’ in white. The chrome option has become popular with players and fans in recent years, but it is not our favorite. Kentucky has solid helmets, but it fails to compare with the rest of the conference.
60. Duke Blue Devils
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Duke will forever be known as a basketball school, but the Blue Devils quietly have put together a great group of helmets. Duke’s iconic ‘D’ logo adorns a bright blue shell in the photo above, and overall it is a strong look. The only knock is the width of the helmet stripe. Duke’s alternate helmets are arguably stronger than its primary shell. The team has both a blue helmet and a white helmet adorned by ‘Duke’ in gothic font. Additionally, the black shell featuring the Blue Devil head is fantastic.
59. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi State’s best helmet, by far, is the one pictured here. The maroon shell with ‘State’ written in script is fantastic. The Bulldogs also sport a white version of the helmet but it doesn’t quite compare with the maroon. In 2022, State unveiled a great alternate helmet that honored its late coach, Mike Leach. On one side of the maroon shell was the classic Mississippi State logo. On the left side of the helmet, a pirate flag accompanying Leach’s initials.
58. Texas A&M Aggies
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
The Aggies need to stop messing around with alternate helmets and stick with the classic maroon shell. Johnny Manziel popularized the white helmet through his heroics at Alabama one memorable Saturday afternoon, but that shell doesn’t come close to the maroon. A&M and Mississippi State don very similar helmets, so picking between the two is just splitting hairs.
57. Vanderbilt Commodores
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Continuing a string of strong helmets, say hello to Vanderbilt. The Commodores have been in the cellar of the SEC for a very long time — they haven’t had a winning season since James Franklin was in charge more than a decade ago — but their look remains strong. Whether the team dons a black helmet or a gold one, the Commodores take the field with a great lid. Unfortunately, “look good, play good” doesn’t always translate.
56. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Cornhuskers have maintained the same look for more than 40 years. In the late 1950s, Nebraska’s helmet resembled Alabama’s famed look — a red shell with a white stripe and numbers on the side of the helmet. The school shifted to a white shell in 1961, and five years later added ‘NU’ to the shell. 1970 marked the introduction of the block ‘N’, but until 1981 the facemask was grey instead of red. The red mask is a clear upgrade, but the helmet doesn’t look as great when the team is constantly battling mediocrity.
55. Wisconsin Badgers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
How did I decide which helmet is better between Nebraska and Wisconsin? Quite frankly, I’ve enjoyed watching Wisconsin more than Nebraska for the better part of two decades. Wisconsin has featured a ‘W’ on its helmet for nearly 70 years. Personally, I would love to see a throwback to the late 1960s that saw Bucky Badger appear on the helmet. This is a solid helmet, but Bucky’s inclusion would lift the Badgers a few spots on my list.
54. Illinois Fighting Illini
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Fighting Illini have a solid helmet. As far as orange teams go, Illinois will always be overshadowed by the likes of Texas and Clemson. Throw in the recent success of Oregon State and Oklahoma State, and the Illini have largely become an afterthought nationally. In terms of their look, I am a fan of the orange shell and the block ‘I’. However, I don’t think this helmet comes close to matching the lids Illinois rocked from the late 1980s through the early 2010s — an orange lid with an underlined ‘Illinois’ decal.
53. Arizona Wildcats
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
A new member of the Big 12, Arizona has had some truly awful helmets in its past. If you don’t believe us, look up Arizona’s helmets from 1970-1989. The Wildcats wore a navy shell in the early 2000s and have messed around with red, chrome helmets a few times. Thankfully, the program opted to revamp its uniforms in 2022 and is currently sporting its best look in program history. The helmet may be simple — a white shell with red and blue striping and Arizona’s classic ‘A’ logo — but it is very clean.
52. Baylor Bears
USA TODAY Sports
Baylor’s current helmet options are quite strong. The two helmets that the Bears wear the most are the yellow shell with a green facemask (above) and an all-green look with the ‘BU’ logo in yellow. The green shell is our preferred look. Additionally, Baylor has a white shell featuring a green facemask and logo. Since 2021, Baylor has worn a great alternate helmet once a year. Baylor’s primary green shell features the Sailor Bear logo from the 1950s — a big winner.
51. Missouri Tigers
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
In our opinion, Missouri’s block ‘M’ helmet is a much better look than the ones that feature the tiger head logo. The Tigers are one of two teams in the SEC that don black and yellow (or gold in Vanderbilt’s case) and they certainly make it work. The tri-stripe on the helmet is a nice compliment to the yellow ‘M’. When Mizzou opts to pair a yellow facemask with this shell, the helmet looks even better.
50. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Not every team can pull off the chrome helmet look, but Wake Forest is one of those schools. The Demon Deacons have a strong collection of helmets. The shell seen in the photo — an all-black look with a chrome gold ‘WF’ decal — is great. The chrome gold shell with ‘WF’ in black may be even better. The ACC has a lot of good-looking helmets, so Wake Forest coming in at No. 9 within the conference is not a slight.
49. BYU Cougars
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
BYU has largely maintained its look since 1970. The Cougars’ most iconic look is a white shell with its logo, facemask and helmet striping in royal blue. Over the past few seasons, BYU has taken the field in multiple helmets — including a navy shell (above), as well as royal and black shells. The Cougars may not be a flashy program, but their helmets are quite nice.
48. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma State has improved its look in recent years. We were never fans of the ‘OSU’ helmets that the program is best known for. And while the team still wears a helmet with the ‘OSU’ logo occasionally, it has shifted more to the helmet in the image. The ‘Cowboys’ script is awesome, as is the striping on the white shell. The script is also colored orange for some games — we like that look even more — and both black and orange versions of the helmet have been worn. Additionally, the Cowboys have a fantastic alternate helmet that features Pistol Pete.
47. Stanford Cardinal
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
We are not sure if we will ever get used to Stanford being a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. As weird as it will be to see Stanford don an ACC patch, we will find comfort in the uniforms remaining largely intact. The Cardinal have practically worn the same helmet since the 1960s — a white shell with a red “Block S”. In 2015, Stanford added the tree to the logo and the look has stuck ever since. The Cardinal have dabbled with alternates in recent years, but the primary helmet remains the best option.
46. NC State Wolfpack
William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
Since 2017, NC State has rocked a version of the Wolf Head on its helmet. In our minds, this marks a huge upgrade over the previous look — the helmet featured the “Block S” logo. The Wolf Head works on all shell variants, but the red shell is particularly strong. As NC State continues to improve on the field, its helmet will become increasingly popular. We are excited to see what the school has up its sleeves moving forward.
45. Washington Huskies
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Washington was a tough team to rank. The gold helmet featuring the purple ‘W’ has been a mainstay for the program since the 1970s. The gold pops when the Huskies wear purple tops, but the helmet still feels a bit dull most of the time. UW has recently worn some awesome alternate lids — including a chrome purple shell with a metallic gold facemask and ‘W’ — but they aren’t enough to vault the Big Ten newcomers into the top-40.
44. Penn State Nittany Lions
USA TODAY Sports
This is sure to piss off a lot of people. Penn State has one of college football’s most recognizable looks. From the blue and white uniform to the classic white helmet — Penn State is a historic brand in the sport. With that being said, the helmet is boring. A white shell with a navy facemask and a single navy stripe. Nice! I cannot put this helmet in the top-40…be happy that I didn’t drop it to the bottom-20.
43. Michigan State Spartans
David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
There are a lot of good helmets in the Big Ten. If you thought Michigan State had a top-5 helmet in the conference, I wouldn’t put up much of a fight. The dark green shell is unique, and the use of the white facemask and a strong stripe really complete the look. Sparty has played around with alternate helmets in recent years — and some have been far better than others. The alternate that includes neon green is a failure, the white helmet is mediocre, but the black lid is awesome.
42. Maryland Terrapins
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Beginning in 2013, Maryland began heavily incorporating the state flag into its helmet design. While some loved the bold move by the university, I thought it looked terrible from the start. Thankfully, Maryland decided to bring back the ‘Terps’ script on a near-full-time basis in 2023. The red helmet above is great. The white shell with ‘Terps’ in red and a red facemask? Also a winner. The black helmet also features ‘Terps’ in red and it is also a good look. Maryland went from a hideous helmet to a trio of strong options.
41. South Carolina Gamecocks
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
South Carolina coming in at No. 41 shouldn’t be seen as a slight. The Gamecocks have rocked a helmet similar to the ones above for decades. In recent years, the team has also wore a black helmet and an awesome garnet shell. South Carolina’s overall look is one of the best in America and we wouldn’t argue if you had its primary helmet in the top-5 of the SEC.
40. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota has fully embraced the unlimited shell rule in college football. Including the chrome option seen above, the Golden Gophers wore more than five unique helmets last season. The opposite side of this gold chrome look features an image of the mascot. Some looks are certainly better than others — and this one is arguably our favorite option currently.
39. UAB Blazers
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
After going through a two-year hiatus in the mid-2010s, UAB is back in action and now under the leadership of Trent Dilfer. The helmet in the photo is UAB’s primary shell. The gold helmet featuring a dragon head spewing fire is unique and easily identifiable for college football fans. The Blazers wore five unique helmets in 2023 but the primary remains the best of the bunch.
38. Kansas Jayhawks
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas is improving as a program and it also has some awesome helmets in its wardrobe. In addition to the white helmet in the photo, Kansas also dons a blue shell that features the Jayhawk — the blue shell has been paired with both a red and white facemask. Additionally, the team has a black helmet adorned with a chrome-blue facemask and a menacing Jayhawk head. Kansas may be a basketball school, but its football team is on the rise.
37. Colorado State Rams
Troy Babbitt-UW Media-Athletics
If you have this helmet ranked much higher, we wouldn’t blame you. Popularized by the Los Angeles Rams, Colorado State’s helmet features a dark green base and gold ram horns. This helmet has been CSU’s primary look dating back to 1995. The Rams have unveiled a handful of alternate helmets in recent years — including a glorious cartoon ram shell — but the green and gold are hard to top.
36. Air Force Falcons
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Air Force has had a lightning bolt on its helmet since 1955. For the majority of those years, the primary helmet has been a white shell featuring a blue lightning bolt. The look has remained largely unchanged other than a few small changes to the color of the shell/bolt. Air Force unveiled a blue alternate in 2014 and beginning in 2016 introduced “Airpower Legacy Series” helmets. Some of those helmets have been incredible — especially the Sharktooth option.
35. Utah Utes
USA TODAY Sports
Now a member of the Big 12, Utah has some very underrated helmets. Utah’s Circle and Feather logo is a classic and remains one of the most-used helmets. With that logo, the Utes have donned red, white, and black shells. The interlocking ‘U’s’ seen above have been worn a lot in recent years. It is a strong look to begin with, but it is taken to another level when the Utes play in the Rose Bowl and add a rose to the shell.
34. SMU Mustangs
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
A new member of the Atlantic Coast Conference — yes, it is weird — SMU has some great helmet options. The sweet lids in the photo above accompany a ‘Dallas’ uniform that the Mustangs introduced ahead of the 2021 season. The red facemask is perfect attached to the white shell. The logo features a red mustang within the “Triple D”. The team also has an alternate which features a black shell with a blue mustang and “Triple D” in white.
33. North Dakota State Bison
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
North Dakota State may not play against elite competition all the time, but the program is a juggernaut. The Bison won the FCS National Championship each year from 2011 to 2015, 2017 to 2019 and 2021. Both of their primary helmets are great. It is hard to choose between the one seen above and the yellow lid — an inverse of the green helmet (yellow shell, green facemask).
32. Auburn Tigers
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
From 1983 to 2020, the orange facemask at Auburn was M.I.A. The navy mask is classic and we have zero issue with its use, but the orange is just a better look. The Tigers donned orange facemasks for a few years while Bo Jackson was on campus and it took far too long for it to return. The logo and helmet stripe are also nice. This isn’t the best helmet in the country, but it is certainly one of the most recognizable.
31. Kansas State Wildcats
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The purple and silver just works. In recent years, Kansas State darkened the shade of purple in their athletics color palette — we prefer the lighter shade — but it didn’t change the appearance of the Powercat. The logo first appeared on K-State’s helmets in 1989 and, thankfully, the team hasn’t strayed away from the look often. In this case, K-State > KU.
30. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Unless you live on the West Coast, you may not have seen Hawaii’s helmet too many times. As recent as 1998, Hawaii’s helmet featured a rainbow with the letters ‘U’ and ‘H’ attached to it. The introduction of the new ‘H’ logo — on the other side of this helmet — in 2000 brought about a new set of uniforms. Combining the ‘H’ with the Hawaiian islands resulted in one of America’s best helmets.
29. Washington State Cougars
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s start with this — Washington State’s logo is criminally underrated. The WSU initials form a Cougar head, it’s genius. The color scheme is also fantastic. Wazzu has introduced numerous alternate helmets in recent years including black, white, red and multiple grey options. The helmets from the 1990s — metallic silver with a crimson facemask and metallic crimson with a white facemask were fantastic. The current options are good, but a return to the past would be welcomed.
28. TCU Horned Frogs
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
It is hard to keep up with TCU’s helmet collection, but there are a lot of winners in the mix. We prefer when the Horned Frogs stick to purple shells, but the black options also look good on the field. Some people may have TCU within their top 5 while others likely despise the team’s look. For us, they are right outside the truly elite helmets in college football.
27. Boise State Broncos
David J. Becker/Getty Images
From 2000-2020, the Boise State Broncos were the winningest program in the nation. The Mountain West juggernaut went 219-43 in that span — a winning percentage of 83.5. Boise State rose to national prominence in 2006. That year, the Broncos capped off a perfect 13-0 season with a historic win, 43-42, over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Over the past 15 or so years, Boise has enhanced its look on the field as its brand has expanded. The program has a handful of awesome helmets to choose from. In addition to the black/orange helmet pictured above, the Broncos have blue, orange and white versions — all of which have multiple color options.
26. Tulane Green Wave
Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Tulane’s color scheme is awesome. The Angry Wave logo is also a winner. There isn’t much to complain about with this helmet. Tulane also sports a green lid as well as a light blue one. All three looks work, but this is our favorite of the bunch.
25. Alabama Crimson Tide
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
We can hear the criticism as we write this. “Alabama is No. 1!” “You guys are out of your minds!” “Whoever wrote this should be fired.”
Look, we get it. Alabama has won a ton of championships and its helmet is iconic. However, that doesn’t mean that we are obligated to put it at the top of the list. At the end of the day, it’s a red helmet with numbers on it.
24. Georgia Bulldogs
Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
The perennial College Football Playoff contenders don one of the most recognizable helmets in all of football — both at the collegiate and professional levels. Of course, Georgia’s helmet features the same logo as the Green Bay Packers. In place of Green Bay’s green and yellow look, Georgia sports a crisp red and black combo. When Georgia first debuted the ‘G’ on its helmet, it received permission from the Packers organization. While Georgia’s helmet design isn’t unique to the program, it is certainly a powerful look and instantly recognizable.
23. Ole Miss Rebels
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Let’s get this out of the way — Ole Miss’ navy blue helmets are not amongst the nation’s best. When the Rebels sport the navy blue, they don’t look great. However, the powder blue helmet is beautiful. The red ‘Ole Miss’ script and stripe pop off the helmet in a way that it simply doesn’t when paired with the navy shell. Powder blue is underutilized when it comes to uniforms, but it often looks great on the field. Ole Miss should adopt the powder as its primary look. If it does, it will likely move up lists like this one in the future.
22. Arkansas Razorbacks
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
The Razorbacks are struggling on the gridiron, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look good while trying to prove you belong at the top of the SEC. Arkansas sports a great, dark shade of red (cardinal). Its helmet would look a bit bland if it had a red facemask — so, we are thankful that it is accompanied by a white facemask instead. The trademark hog on the helmet looks ferocious. Unique and visually pleasing, Arkansas’ helmet is an underrated gem.
21. Clemson Tigers
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Like Ohio State, Clemson awards its players with small stickers for playing at a high level. But while we don’t necessarily think the tiny footprint stickers are a necessary/good addition to Clemson’s helmet, we do favor the Tigers’ original shell more than Ohio State’s. Clemson’s orange shell pops off the screen, and the white paw print is a tremendous logo. It doesn’t matter if the Tigers are competing for national titles or are mired in mediocrity, their helmet will always be one of the best in the country.
20. North Carolina Tar Heels
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
We love Ole Miss’ powder blue helmet, but North Carolina’s Carolina Blue look is superior. Carolina Blue is one of the most recognizable colors in collegiate sports. While that is the case largely due to the school’s legendary basketball program, the Tar Heels also have a great look on the gridiron. It doesn’t matter if the helmet is paired with a white, black or blue top, the trademark shade of blue always looks great. The Tar Heels don’t need to mess with a great thing, but they also have a nice white helmet at their disposal.
19. Oklahoma Sooners
USA Today Sports
Oklahoma’s crimson helmet is iconic. Teams with a rich history of success often sport a uniform that is regarded as a classic, and Oklahoma is no exception. While the helmet is rather simple, it is undeniably effective. The interlocked ‘O’ and ‘U’ logo fits perfectly on the shell, and the white facemask is a perfect complement to the strong crimson color. The Sooners have introduced a few alternate helmets in recent seasons, but their traditional look remains the clear top dog for the program.
18. Colorado Buffaloes
Ralph Freso/Getty Images
It’s hard to mess up a uniform/helmet when your main colors are black and gold. As we can see, the Colorado Buffaloes certainly understood the assignment. The Buffaloes’ primary helmet is an absolute winner. Colorado sports a gold shell adorned with a black facemask and a black buffalo decal. While the program has also introduced black, white and grey shells over the past few years, the gold remains the best. When Colorado was one of the nation’s top programs, this helmet was instantly recognizable and carried weight across the country.
17. Ohio State Buckeyes
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Ohio State’s helmet evolves as the season progresses. For some, even the Buckeyes’ plain silver shell (with the stripe) is one of the best looks in the country. This writer wouldn’t include that version of the helmet amongst the nation’s 25-best, but once the stickers start appearing? That’s a different story. The buckeye leaves — which are awarded to players for exceptional play — add a ton to the helmet and Ohio State’s overall look. Once a player’s helmet is full of buckeye leaves, the helmet is elevated to another level.
16. Florida Gators
James Gilbert/Getty Images
Florida has worn a lot of helmets over the years, but its best look (above) is an iconic college football helmet. First worn in 1979, the orange shell with a white facemask and ‘Gators’ in blue script is rather gorgeous. The program has introduced some strong, white helmets since the mid-2000s — one that features a blue ‘F’ and one that looks identical to the main helmet, but with a white shell in place of the orange — but none hold a candle to the iconic orange dome.
15. Tennessee Volunteers
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
There is just something about this helmet that we love. It is incredibly simple, no doubt. A white shell with an orange ‘T’ and stripe. The Vols’ helmet has evolved a few times over the past few decades — sometimes to its detriment — but it is currently looking just right. The stripe going down the middle of the helmet no longer features a checkerboard pattern at the base. In addition to the primary look, Tennessee unveiled a strong alternate helmet — with a black facemask and ‘T’/stripe outline — in 2021.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Arizona State Sun Devils once had one of the nation’s best looks. From 1980-2010, ASU sported a version of the helmet featured above. The iconic look includes the team’s mascot, Sparky, running while carrying his pitchfork. Despite no longer being the main helmet, the Sparky domes are still worn by the Sun Devils. Currently, ASU’s main helmet features an updated, large pitchfork. Since adopting the new look in 2011, the team has worn white, black, maroon, silver, yellow, and sand variations.
13. San Diego State Aztecs
Tom Hauck/Getty Images
Unless you live on the West Coast or consider yourself a massive college football fan, this is probably the first time you’ve seen this helmet. A member of the Mountain West Conference, the Aztecs are often overshadowed by some fellow California programs a few hours North — namely, UCLA and USC. While the program has had some nice helmets previously, these beautiful lids are on another level. Inspired by the Aztec calendar, this helmet debuted in 2015. A recent update resulted in the Aztec art truly popping off the red dome. Don’t sleep on SDSU’s look.
12. Wyoming Cowboys
William Mancebo/Getty Images
The last time Wyoming football was at the center of the football world was in 2018. That year, Wyoming’s star quarterback, Josh Allen, was in the NFL’s crosshairs. Of course, Allen has since become a legit superstar and top-5 quarterback in the league. As for Wyoming, the Cowboys have played near-.500 ball. The Cowboys have one of the most underrated looks in college football. The brown and gold color scheme is perfect — as is the image of Cowboy Joe riding a bucking bronco. With an elite color combo and top-notch logo, Wyoming sports one of the nation’s best helmets.
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Only one team should be able to wear a solid-gold helmet, and that team is Notre Dame. Notre Dame is one of the most iconic brands in college athletics, and its football team leads the way for the school. The Fighting Irish’s current gold helmet is arguably the best in program history. The shell sparkles under the bright lights and gives off a sense of importance. Notre Dame is a team that should never wear an alternate helmet. Simple, but great.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Dressed like the collegiate version of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Iowa Hawkeyes sport one of the nation’s cleanest uniforms. Utilizing black and gold (looks more yellow than gold to us), Iowa makes the most out of a rather simple look. The lone pop of color on the helmet comes by way of a yellow stripe and Tiger Hawk logo. Like the University of Georgia, Iowa reached out to the Steelers organization seeking permission to rebrand its program in reverence of the famed NFL franchise. Thanks to Pittsburgh’s generosity, we get to enjoy one of the best helmets in football whenever Iowa takes the field.
9. Miami Hurricanes
Mark Brown/Getty Images
Miami owns the orange, green and white trifecta. ‘The U’ is home to some of the greatest teams in the history of college football, and its trademark helmet has become synonymous with the sport. Miami’s main lid features all three colors — the shell and facemask are white, the ‘U’ is half orange and half green, and two thin, green stripes outline a thick, orange stripe. Now, Miami’s white helmet might be its second-best look. The Hurricanes recently debuted a black/neon helmet and WOW. It is a thing of beauty.
8. Florida State Seminoles
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
All three of Florida’s top programs — Florida, Miami and Florida State — don iconic helmets. Winners of three National Championships, the Seminoles have worn their iconic helmets since 1976. FSU has a great color scheme — although some of the more recent uniforms have been a bit lacking — predominantly using garnet and gold. The Seminoles typically take the field in their gold helmets. The garnet facemask and garnet/white spear are perfect compliments to the gold shell. While there have been calls for FSU to change its mascot/brand, the spear helmet remains one of college football’s best.
7. Texas Longhorns
Tim Warner/Getty Images
Another simple, classic helmet. Texas is a historic program. It claims four National Championships, has two Heisman Trophy winners, and has over 900 wins. The program’s burnt orange and white look is iconic. Texas’ gorgeous helmet has remained largely the same since 1961. In ’61, the helmet featured the Bevo logo with the player’s number above it and an orange stripe down the middle. The stripe and numbers are no longer in place (the numbers are on the back), but the beloved burnt orange Bevo remains — and we love it.
6. Oregon Ducks
Tom Hauck/Getty Images
Oregon changed the landscape of college football both on and off the field. Chip Kelly’s offense has been copied by countless programs around the country, and Oregon’s countless uniform/helmet combinations have resulted in hundreds of alternates nationwide. The Ducks’ classic ‘O’ helmet was pretty solid, but their current winged look is iconic. Oregon has donned more than a handful of winged helmets, and all of them are outstanding. We can’t wait to see what the Ducks unveil next.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Sometimes, new isn’t better. From the early 1980s through 1996, the Pittsburgh Panthers were one of the best-dressed teams in the nation. Then, Pitt unveiled a new helmet that was a far cry from the glory days — a gold shell featuring a whack-looking Panther. In ’05, the panther lid was scrapped in favor of a gold helmet with a block ‘PITT’ — another dud. Thankfully, the program turned back the clock in ’19 and brought back the beautiful helmet pictured above. The colors are great, and the script ‘Pitt’ is even better. A true masterpiece.
4. UCLA Bruins
Harry How/Getty Images
UCLA’s complete uniform is arguably the best in the country. The Bruins’ home blue and gold are unmatched. And while past versions of the helmet may be a bit better — ‘UCLA’ in navy blue instead of light blue was phenomenal — the current version is still top-tier. The ‘UCLA’ script is perfect, and the gold is now the perfect shade after a few years of the program sporting a more yellow-gold lid. The Bruins may not be an elite team, but they look the part.
3. Michigan Wolverines
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Everyone recognizes Michigan’s maize and blue. The Wolverines wear the most notable helmet in college football — and possibly in all of football overall. Michigan has sported its famed winged helmet since 1938. There is never a doubt which team is playing if you quickly glance up at your television and see these helmets. We are undecided on the helmet stickers — they can look good to an extent, but too many stickers seem to take a bit away from the winged look — but the base helmet is perfect.
2. USC Trojans
Steve Grayson/WireImage/Getty Images
The Trojans haven’t been good for a few years, but USC remains an elite program — and arguably college football’s most historic. 11 National Championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, over 500 NFL Draft picks…the USC Trojans are a legendary name. So, it is only fitting that USC’s helmets are also elite. Aside from an update to the Trojan logo on the helmet, the lid has remained largely unchanged since its debut in 1972. There is no mistaking USC’s cardinal and gold color scheme, nor its simple yet powerful helmet. If Lincoln Riley can carry the Trojans back to the top of college football, the helmet will only stand out even more.
1. LSU Tigers
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Alabama? NOPE. Penn State? Absolutely not. The best helmet in college football belongs to the LSU Tigers. Purple and gold look great together. Tigers are badass. Combine those colors with an iconic animal and you have a glorious helmet. The ‘LSU’ arching over the tiger head works to perfection — as does the helmet stripe going down the middle. Also, LSU’s white alternate helmet may be just as gorgeous as its primary yellow lid.
