College football helmets: Ranking 15 most iconic designs of all-time (2024)

UCLA updated its trademark gold helmet with light blue "UCLA" wordmark decal to a richer gold with the same tint facemask prior to the 2021 season and somehow, made an iconic look appear even more grand. Over the last decade, the Bruin have most often worn the gold with blue, which dates back to the early 1970s, but has also worn several variationsincluding white, black and even anthracite. Before switching to gold facemasks a couple years ago, grey was the featured choice.

The lone modern-era lid to appear in this ranking, Ole Miss firstdonned the powder blues from1948-77and again in the mid 1980s before bringing it back in2014 as a preferred alternate look as an ode to Chucky Mullins, a former player who was paralyzed during a game against Vanderbilt in 1989. This one falls under the alternate label, but considering how often Lane Kiffin's program wears the powder blues these days, we might as well consider it one of the primary options. There hasn't been a better secondary lid option in many years across the Power conference ranks.

Sans all of the recent "Miami Nights" black alternate helmets that have been a thing in recent years, Miami's traditional white helmet with the "U" decal and triple orange and green stripe is a great option. Miami's helmets were virtually unchanged from 1984 through the 2014 season, defined by white facemasks and various corresponding jersey choices. Black, orange, green and even a gradient helmet (2013 only) missed their mark. The Hurricanes should always wear their white helmets.

Since 1981, Nebraska wears its recognizable white helmet with red accents — the "N", the stripe and the facemasks. The Huskers' first black helmet appeared in 2012 with a matte version coming in 2015. Nebraska's current black alternate helmet is a white shell detailed with black accents, the inverse of its primary red-detailed lid. One of college football's winningest programs, when you see the "N", you know what it means. Matt Rhule hopes to bring the "N" back to prominence during his tenure.

From 1979 to now, Florida's unique orange lid with "GATORS" in blue script and a white outline has been around for several decades during the program's impressive showing as one of the SEC's powerhouses of the 1990s and 2000s under former coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Many All-American quarterbacks, including Heisman winner and two-time national champion Tim Tebow, sported the familiar look that has become one of the SEC's most iconic. Florida has also worn white, matte blue and black helmet versions of the look, too.

USC debuted its Trojan-head primary logo on its cardinal helmet shell in 1972 and the image has been modernized a bit sense, but still has kept its throwback look. The combination moved to grey facemasks near the turn of the century in 2001 and 12 years later, a non-gray facemask appeared with a gold hue. USC experimented with a cardinal-chromed out helmet in 2014, but it didn't last. The current helmet of choice under third-year coach Lincoln Riley is one that screams tradition as USC heads into the Big Ten.

Georgia dropped its adorning black stripe across its red helmets prior to the 2021 season and went with solid white, a look we had seen in Athens since the mid-1960s. Georgia's current helmet has been worn since with only a couple one-off alternates including a black helmet in 2009 and a silver, Nike Pro Combat helmet to open the 2011 season. There have been rumored white and black helmet options since, but nothing's been seen on gamedays. Georgia's oval "G" is a traditional logo and the Bulldogs look fantastic in their red garb.

FSU's recognizable spear decal on its gold helmets first appeared in 1976 and over the last decade, has been stylized a bit. The Seminoles have increased the size of the spear while keeping the integrity of their iconic look. Like Ohio State, Michigan and a few others, FSU's helmet stickers— tomahawks— rank amongst the best in college football. FSU debuted an anodized garnet helmet with golden spears in 2015, have worn black helmets and have a white alternate with garnet spears the Seminoles wear on occasion. All of the options are fantastic.

The Bevo "Longhorn" logo first appeared on the team's white helmets in 1961 and have remained since, with subtle changes over the years.From 1977 through the 2012 season, the helmet decal was a dark hue of orange before moving to a lighter shade. There was even a metallic logo that was utilized for a couple years under Charlie Strong. Texas moved back to its darker logo in 2021 and that's been unchanged since. The burnt orange and white is among the most recognizable combos across all college sports, not just football.

No decals needed. Penn State's white shells with the single navy blue stripe are basic, but they've been around for more than half a century. Facemasks changed from grey to navy in 1988 and the Nittany Lions have donned navy blue numerals on one side of their helmets at times over the years, including once a season since 2019. Bumpers now say "PENN STATE" instead of "LIONS", that move coming in the late 1980s, according to helmet history.

Since the mid-1960s, the golden domes of Notre Dame have largely remained unchanged other than one-offs and alternate options during the Fighting Irish's time with Under Armour. In 2011, Notre Dame's biggest alteration came in the form of a shinier gold, helmets that not gleam under the lights and no longer have the dull hue. The 'Shamrock Series' games started around the same time and has provided opportunities for the Fighting Irish to be a bit more edgy with their helmet options, including a couple far-out navyshelliteration. Still, Notre Dame's all-gold is one of college football's best.

One of the SEC's examples of perfection in the apparel department, aesthetically speaking, LSU's gold with purple accents, the triple stripe and wide lettering is on point. And for hte most part, it's been relatively untouched since the late 1970s, giving it the iconic label. LSU has a white version of its helmet the Tigers have worn sparingly over the years and a purple, color-changing variant option we're hoping is available in EA Sports' College Football 25 later this summer.

Alabama has worn its basic crimson shell with a white stripe, numerals and gray facemask for more than half-a-century with just over a dozen national championships won in the iconic choice. Even the Crimson Tide's recognizable "BAMA" front bumper has remain unchanged for decades outside of type-facedifferences. Chin straps are still white and Alabama hasn't let Nike alter its home and away garb while most other programs graced with rich tradition have done so. You know what you're getting from Alabama on gamedays and its one of the nation's best looks.

Michigan might not have been college football's first program to wear the infamous "winged" helmets, but the Wolverines are certainly -- and deservedly so -- credited with making them the most iconic. Michigan revealed its navy blue lids with maize "winged" graphics on Sept. 1, 1938 against Michigan State College, which also donned a version of the "winged" look.Then-Michigan coach Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler arrived from Princeton and brought with him what has now become one of college football's storied headgear options.

Ohio State's splendid silver shell with the scarlet, white and black stripes first appeared in 1979 and has largely remained unchanged through the 2024 season, outside of several alternate options in college football's modern era. Dozens of programs have incorporated stickers on their helmets, but Ohio State does it best with green "Buckeye" decals that truly brings out the best about his look on gamedays. Ohio State, in recent years, has donned a variety of alternate lids, including black, throwback scarlet, camo gray and two-toned with wider stripes.