Oregon Ducks massively disrespected in Top 75 college football helmet rankings
Over the past couple of months, the college football websites at USA TODAY have gotten together to conduct a helmet ranking in the sport, seeing which school has the best lids in the nation.
While the concept of alternative jerseys is relatively new for some schools, at the University of Oregon, it has been a trend that was set well over a decade ago, and the Ducks have perfected the art of the uniform combination, with endless jerseys and helmets to choose from. It is one of the biggest attractions to the team, and one of the bigger tools in recruiting as well.
When asked which helmet should be used for Oregon in the top 75 ranking — a question that not many other schools had to answer — I chose to go with the green and yellow lid that the Ducks wore vs. Georgia to open the 2022 season. It’s clean, bright, and not too flashy.
Oregon Ducks Helmet
Maybe that was the wrong choice? Maybe people don’t like that helmet very much? Maybe the complete and utter disrespect that the Ducks saw in the top 75 rankings is more due to jealousy, and the fact that other fan bases who voted on the rankings are a tad upset with how much of an influence Nike has in Eugene.
All of that is to say that the Ducks finished the rankings all the way down at No. 41 in the nation.
Number 41.
That means that fans believe there are 40 other helmets more impressive than the one shown above.
What are we doing here?
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the final ranking, so to try and prove a point, I went through the top-25 ranking and looked at who made the cut, all before giving my opinion on if that school’s helmet is better than Oregon’s or not.
It should be noted that the following opinions are my own, and while I may not agree with some of the helmet choices in the ranking, it does not impact my feelings towards any of the actual teams or the great journalists who write for the respective USA TODAY websites.
With that being said, lets tear apart these top 25 rankings and see what the heck is going on.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No
My unfiltered opinion
I like this helmet. It’s got an edgy look and brings back memories of Michael Crabtree when I see it. Red and black is a classic combo. All in all, nice helmet and deserving of a prominent ranking.
Florida Gators
: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
No
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Absolutely not
My unfiltered opinion
Really? This one made the top 25? I get the history and nostalgia with the Florida Gators, but this is a boring helmet. Plain orange, and cursive letters. Yawn.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Sure
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Definitely not
My unfiltered opinion
If you want to be a minimalist and say that Penn State’s helmet is beautiful for its simplicity, fine. I won’t argue with you. There are few things cooler to see than the whiteout at Penn State games when the Nittany Lions are rocking these. Would I rank it ahead of Oregon, though? Definitely not.
Wisconsin Badgers
Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No, but in the same ballpark.
My unfiltered opinion
I like this helmet. I like the Wisconsin logo and I think overall it is a clean look. I don’t think that it deserves to be miles ahead of a Duck helmet, but I have no problem with its standing in the top 25.
USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Sure
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
*eye roll*
My unfiltered opinion
It’s fine. A lot of people like the USC Trojans whole thing, and how they haven’t changed their uniforms or helmets since the ice ages. If that’s your thing, then more power to you. It’s not for me, and I’m not a huge fan of this helmet. None of this opinion is based on my upbringing as a Duck fan and hater of USC, either. (Sarcasm Font)
Tennessee Volunteers
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Definitely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
In the same conversation.
My unfiltered opinion
I really like this helmet. I love the Tennessee colors, to be honest, and I think that this is a clean look. You could argue that it should be ranked alongside or ahead of Oregon, and I would have no problem with it. I also really liked the alternate black helmets they rolled out this year as well.
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
NO.
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Absolutely not.
My unfiltered opinion
Are we kidding? An uninspiring ‘N’ is your logo, with a single red stripe down the middle, and that is deserving of a top-25 ranking? I get that Nebraska used to be good and everything, and there’s a nostalgia there, but come on. What are we doing?
Oklahoma Sooners
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Sure
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Nah.
My unfiltered opinion
I could take it or leave it. I don’t hate the Sooners’ helmets, but I can’t say they do much for me either. It’s a big brand, so I understand the prominence in the rankings.
SMU Mustangs
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
I would argue yes.
My unfiltered opinion
SMU’s whole color scheme doesn’t get enough shine, in my opinion. I like the mascot, I like the brightness of the color pallette, and I’m a big fan of these helmets. They should be ranked higher, in my opinion.
Michigan State Spartans
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Sure
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No
My unfiltered opinion
They’re solid. I like the green, I like the white facemask, and I’m a fan of the logo. No notes.
Colorado Buffaloes
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
I guess
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No
My unfiltered opinion
I think these helmets will start to look a lot cooler with Coach Prime in proximity of them. To be honest, Colorado’s alternate white helmets are far better than the gold, in my opinion.
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
TCU Horned Frogs
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Absolutely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Yes
My unfiltered opinion
This is a top-5 helmet. A lot of people dislike the color purple when it comes to sports, but I think that TCU’s mascot and the sharpness of the logo are great, and setting that on a white backdrop is perfect. I don’t think this should be the No. 1 pick, but it’s definitely up there for me.
Clemson Tigers
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No
My unfiltered opinion
These are fine. I don’t hate them, and I can’t say I love them either. I’m luke-warm at best, which is a lot better than I can say about some of these other helmets…
Ole Miss Rebels
Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
No
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No
My unfiltered opinion
Maybe I just don’t like cursive lettering. I guess I’m learning something about myself while doing this. I think that it’s the color scheme that throws me off here. If Ole Miss stuck with their alternates which feature a lighter blue, it becomes a top-10 helmet for me.
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Bulldogs
Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
I’d be fine with it
My unfiltered opinion
Yea, I totally get this one. Georgia has one of the most well-known logos in college football, and the bright red is a great backdrop. These are really clean helmets and are well-deserving of a top-10 spot.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Fine
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
No
My unfiltered opinion
I know this will be met as an unpopular opinion, but I can’t say I’m a big fan of these helmets. They’re just boring, in my opinion. I get the history, mystique, and all of the decades of success that Notre Dame has had in the solid gold domes. I understand, and if that’s enough to put them near the top of the rankings for you, great. They would be lower in my own rankings, personally.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Absolutely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Definitely
My unfiltered opinion
When going through the top 25, I had trouble deciding on what I think should be No. 1. In the end, I landed on Ohio State. The Buckeyes’ helmets are among the most classic looks in the nation, holding the history and legacy of the silver and red while also adding a unique twist with the helmet stickers. I think these belong at the top of the rankings, personally.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Definitely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
I’d say yes
My unfiltered opinion
You can never go wrong with North Carolina blue, and the UNC logo is among the most recognizable in all of sports. Whether you do this blue logo on a white helmet, or the white logo on a blue helmet, they’re both winners.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa Hawkeyes
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
I suppose
My unfiltered opinion
I’m a big fan of Iowa’s logo, and I actually like the helmet quite a bit. I think it would be a lot cooler if it wasn’t scoring 7 points per game.
Utah Utes
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
It’s in the same ballpark
My unfiltered opinion
What I like about Utah is that they, like the Ducks, aren’t afraid to mix it up with their helmets and wear several alternates. While this white one shown above is great, they also have released these bangers in the past few years as well:
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas Razorbacks
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Absolutely not
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Are you kidding?
My unfiltered opinion
This may be my biggest gripe on the entire list. Arkansas? What are we doing? This is among the most boring helmets out there. The logo is whatever, I could take it or leave it. But setting it on a plain red backdrop does absolutely nothing for me. I don’t think these belong in the top 25, let alone in the top 5.
LSU Tigers
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Absolutely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Yes
My unfiltered opinion
I’m a big fan of the LSU helmets. I’m a big fan of LSU’s color scheme and jerseys in general, to be completely honest. When you’ve got guys like Odell Beckham, and Jarvis Landry, and the Honey Badger rocking those threads, it’s hard to get much cooler. And when they choose to go with the all-white threads? Forget about it. This is a well-deserved top-5 ranking.
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Florida State Seminoles
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Definitely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
I’d say yes
My unfiltered opinion
While it’s not my favorite helmet on the board, and I would argue it may not belong in the top 5, I can’t deny that the Seminoles have a nice look going. It’s a classic logo with the spear, and the tomahawk helmet stickers are a nice touch.
Michigan Wolverines
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Definitely
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Absolutely
My unfiltered opinion
Michigan and Ohio State, ironically, were the top two helmets on my big board. I think that Michigan’s yellow waves on the blue are among the most classic looks in college football. When you throw in the flare of the helmet stickers, it makes it even better. If Ohio State is No. 1, then Michigan is No. 2. I could easily put Michigan in the top spot, though.
Texas Longhorns
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Is it deserving of a top-25 ranking?
Yes
Does it deserve to be ranked ahead of the Oregon Ducks?
Definitely not
My unfiltered opinion
Number 1? Really? This is what got the No. 1 ranking in the nation? I mean, I get a top-10 spot, or maybe even a top-5 ranking because of the history and legacy, but there are so many more deserving No. 1 candidates. The burnt orange is nice, and it’s a classic logo, but it’s just not doing enough for me to give it the No. 1 spot in the nation.
