Big 12 Football: The best and worst helmets in the conference
Baylor
Best: Q, 2019-present
Of course, we start with the Bears, who ironically didn’t even get their best look until the end of the decade. A yellow bear (that looks like something out of the 70s, and that’s a compliment) on the matte green shell is really nice. Baylor didn’t get to wear these in 2020, but hopefully, it makes a couple of appearances in 2021.
Worst: 1993-1996
Another case of nothing wrong with it, but also how one color can make the difference. The white outline of the Baylor logo is missing on this one. Compare that to all the other Baylor helmets, and you’ll see this looks less than compared to the others.
Iowa State
Best: H, 2017-present
Iowa State has had some great helmets. This one is the same as the one they’ve worn since 2008 (with a different facemask) but this one is chrome. The shine on it is fantastic, a much brighter look than the other red helmets Iowa State wears.
Worst: September 16, 2007
A mustard yellow shell with a dark maroon I and white ISU letters inside the I. Rough. Too many moving parts on this. It’d look much better if the ISU lettering wasn’t there.
Kansas
Best: K, 2015-2018
The old school Jayhawk returned in 2009 after a 21-year hiatus but didn’t come back full time until 2013. This look is its best: The Jayhawk is oversized, taking up a lot of the blue shell, with white and red stripes down the middle. Hopefully, this look doesn’t go away again.
Worst: 1987
A total ripoff of the New York Giants helmet. From the shade of blue to the font of “Kansas” to the line underneath. It’s a good thing this only lasted a season, and I can’t believe Kansas abandoned the Jayhawk logo for this.
Kansas State
Best: 1989-present
Kansas State is a rare team to not really partake in the helmet craze. They’ve occasionally done some one-offs (we’ll get to one) but have for the most part stayed true to their look. This is the classic Kansas State look, the one you think of when thinking about Kansas State football. There’s a reason it’s lasted 32 years, and hopefully, it lasts another 32.
Worst: November 16, 2019
Plain and boring are the best two words to describe this helmet. Gone is the wildcat, it is a cursive look, simply saying “Cats.” Is this for a football team? Or to honor the Broadway musical?
Oklahoma
Best: A, 1977-present
Another program that has refused to leave its roots, Big 12 football power, Oklahoma has rocked these since 1977. It’s joined the upper ranks of legendary college football looks, and it’s one that should never be abandoned.
Worst: 1962-1965
Oklahoma only has seven different looks on record, so there’s not much to choose from. This gets the call for the following reasons: four looks are virtually identical, and one is a white variation. The 1962-65 look has numbers instead of a logo, and it’s way too low on the helmet. If that look happened today, whoever was in charge of the logo would say “uh oh.”