USA Today broke down their list of the Top 25 helmets in college football. Jordan Mendoza and Craig Meyer collaborated on their picks for the best ones in the sport.
This list is obviously subjective, so we’ll break down their picks and order. Color, logo, use and more were factored into this ranking. Fans might be up in arms, but it’s a good thing football is settled on the field!
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So without further ado, let’s dive into the best helmets in college football. We’ll start at No. 25 and work our way up to determine the best look for your head on the field!
Oklahoma’s helmets have their classic colors plus with the white OU logo on both sides. Largely unchanged, the greats such as Billy Sims, Brian Bosworth and even recently with Adrian Peterson and Baker Mayfield, have worn this crown.
Alabama is similar to Oklahoma’s helmet due to the style. Except, they have the player’s respective number on both sides, plus the white stripe down the middle of the crimson helmet. A very traditional look, it never goes out of style.
Wyoming’s helmet and logo is very distinct. The Cowboy logo stands out with the cowboy riding the horse and waving his hat. If you put the black and gold logo on a white helmet, it sticks out, especially under the lights.
Boise State’s helmets have changed recently, going way more blue than orange in their design. But the Bronco logo takes up nearly the entire side of the helmet left and right. But with blue turf, comes a lot of blue in the uniform, including on the dome.
The Cougars have a unique logo where the “WSU” looks like a cougar and claw blended into letters. It’s distinctly in white on the red helmet, with a red facemask. It’s prominent on College GameDay (on a flag anyway).
Nebraska has a very recognizable helmet across college football. The white shell has a red stripe down the middle and the red ‘N’ on both sides. Not to mention the area code of 308 right above the red facemask. These became a staple and recognizable in the 1990s.
If you want to talk about a clean, plain helmet look, Penn State has it. No logos, no numbers, nothing! They have a white crown and a blue stripe down the middle. Talk about traditional folks. It also looks solid when Penn State has their white-out game.
Utah goes multiple stripes red, white and black down the middle of a white helmet. That’s already solid. Throw in their solid logo with the ‘U’ or their retro ‘UU’ logo on this bad boy and that’s sleek protection for your head!
The Sun Devils have a cool color palette when it comes to their helmets. The yellow helmet alongside the maroon Sun Devil on the sides is very fresh. Add in the black facemask and it just all works! But, as USA Today pointed out, they use the trident logo more often, which is why they’re lower on the list.
Pitt had numerous helmet changes over the years and they primarily go with the script “Pitt” logo on the helmet. Pretty much, it depends on what the Panthers’ color scheme is. The eye popping blue and yellow, compared to the gold and darker blue is much better.
Hawaii’s helmets are cool with a black shell and green logo, featuring all eight of the Hawaiian islands. Not to mention the green and white stripe down the middle has feathers, paying homage to the chiefs and warriors of the past.
Colorado has a gold that absolutely pops off the field and those are the primary helmets. The CU logo is also gold, but it’s over the black silhouette of a buffalo. It’s a very clean look for Colorado and they hope it’ll be paired with more success on the field in 2026.
USA Today used the example of San Diego State’s red helmets with the Aztec Sun Stone, not necessarily the team’s traditional logo. The school fully went into the identity and it’s actually not too distracting as the black outline blends in with the red helmet.
The Hurricanes have an iconic logo on their helmet, the ‘U.’ It’s orange and green and instantly recognizable, especially on the white shell. The stripe down the middle is also orange and green and everything just flows with, concluding with a white facemask.
Florida has had a lot of helmet looks over the course of their history, including the ‘F’ logo which is synonymous with the Steve Spurrier era. But the script “Gators” in blue letters and white outline on an orange helmet is classic.
UCLA has its four letters in script lettering on both sides of the helmet in their blue shade. It’s pasted onto a gold helmet with a gold facemask. Throw in the fact that Jordan Brand has made slight improvements over time, this is a top 10 look, per USA Today.
Tulane has had multiple designs as well, but their current helmets are top 10 worthy. The white shell with the ‘Green Wave’ and sky blue wave logo is on both sides. Throw in the green facemask, this is top tier.
Funny enough, per USA Today, the trojan logo on the helmet is actually not the official one. Still, it won’t go away. The gold trojan head on the red helmet is an iconic look. It just screams 2000s era college football when USC was at the top of the sport.
The Tigers, based on the total uniform, could have the best one in college football. As far as the helmets are concerned, they are close. The LSU yellow dominates the shell. Then, the purple lettering, purple facemask and Tiger logo complete the look. It’s been a staple since 1980.
Funny enough, there’s not an exact primary uniform or helmet for Oregon, but most, if not all, are very flashy and pristine. The example used by USA Today is the dark green helmet with the actual Duck logo on both sides. Oregon also uses their class ‘O’ with numerous colors, but it’s hard to go wrong.
Texas is very classic and sleek, using a white helmet and their burnt orange Longhorns logo on both sides. There’s also the outline of the state of Texas on the back next to a player’s number. The white facemask also makes this a very clean look against their orange jerseys.
Florida State has gold helmets and red facemasks. Throw in the spear logo on both sides with its red and white color, that’s sleek. FSU, like a lot of programs, use helmet stickers. They are in the shape of a tomahawk and it just adds to the prestige.
Speaking of helmet stickers, the Buckeyes are pretty much known for them. Their grey helmets are prominent, plus the red, white and black stripes down the middle. What makes them unique is that the buckeye leaves are what stand out about the helmets. Perhaps this is the only program that can have their helmets truly look better with stickers.
These helmets have nothing on them at all. That’s right. All Notre Dame needs is a shiny gold dome and a grey facemask and that’s it. Talk about the cleanest look, arguably, in college football. Notre Dame has used alternate looks, but this is a classic.
And now we get to the top helmet in college football per USA Today. The blue helmet and bleu facemask are nice already. But then, you throw in the winged look on top in their maize color. It’s been duplicated by high schools around the country, but it can never be the same. Add in their yellow helmet stickers to combat Ohio State, probably, Michigan comes out on top.
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