Ranking all 14 Big Ten helmets from worst to first
College football in its best ways can be better than any NFL game for a multitude of reasons, the biggest being the free-flowing ability that programs have with uniforms.
Schools like Oregon have always led the way with being innovative but slowly the rest of the country is catching up. Traditional programs like Alabama and USC haven’t gotten involved but most of everyone else has and the results have been fun to see.
The best part of a uniform however has to be the helmet. Every player matches, there is no confusion with it and it is the lone identifier for the team as a whole. The Big Ten has a good mix of traditional and innovative approaches which makes ranking them that much harder, here is our best shot.
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
These being last is sure to get some people fired up but let’s be honest, these are bland as bland can be. Comparing it to the rest of the conference these just feel left behind design-wise.
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A candy apple red look makes it hit or miss but all-in-all this isn’t the best-looking helmet, especially with the choice of block lettering.
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
A good blend of blue and orange for Illinois here but all in all this is a much too simple of a look for the helmet to be ranked much higher.
Indiana Hoosiers
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
The shade of ed is flashier than it had been in years prior but overall it makes for a less than ideal design considering those ranked ahead of it.
Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
The Purdue Boilermakers have a good color scheme but the helmet design is lacking to make it pop further up in the rankings.
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Not much to boast about with this helmet but the unique purple and block lettering makes it the best in the lower tier of these rankings.
Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
A classic red and white go together well for Wisconsin. The lettering on the helmet looks good but isn’t great compared to those ahead of them.
Syndication: Lansing State Journal
The green of the uniform looks clean and is heightened by the blocking of the lettering on the helmet. A solid combo in the middle of the pack of our rankings.
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The maroon and gold look great on the helmet itself but the gold facemask puts it in the top five of our rankings.
It's Iconic. It's Back.
Script Terps is now our full time uniform!
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) April 17, 2023
Maryland teased the world with their throwback script uniforms last year and the reception they had was strong enough that they have them full-time now. You have to love the throwback making a comeback and the shade of red with the font makes it rank higher than other script helmets.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The uniforms as a whole are inspired by the excellence of the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the perfect black and gold look it goes over the top with the hawkeye to match.
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The scarlet and gray is one of the more iconic-looking helmets in all of college football, that can’t be denied. For the sake of these rankings though there are two helmets that hold up a tad more.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
In a rank that might be seen as “homer-ism” you can’t deny the clean look of the white helmet. A nod to history but also getting modern updates with stickers based on current events.
Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The perfect shade of blue that compliments the yellow all wrapped together by the winged graphic on it makes it perfect. The helmet stickers put it over the top and as a whole is one of the best in all of college football.
