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Big Ten football: Ranking the 5 most iconic helmets in the conference

By Christopher Mangum

STATE COLLEGE, PA - DECEMBER 12: A general view of the Michigan State Spartans defensive line and the Penn State Nittany Lions offensive line as Chris Stoll #91 of the Penn State Nittany Lions prepares to snap the ball during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 12, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - DECEMBER 12: A general view of the Michigan State Spartans defensive line and the Penn State Nittany Lions offensive line as Chris Stoll #91 of the Penn State Nittany Lions prepares to snap the ball during the second half at Beaver Stadium on December 12, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: A helmet of the Nebraska Cornhuskers rests on the sideline during a game against the University of Tennessee Volunteers during the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: A helmet of the Nebraska Cornhuskers rests on the sideline during a game against the University of Tennessee Volunteers during the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

4. Nebraska

Even though Nebraska is one of the newest members of the Big Ten, the program boasts some of the most recognizable helmets in college football history. The Cornhuskers typically wore a white helmet with red painted numbers on each side from its creation. This look died in the mid-1960s when the iconic ‘N’ made its first appearance on the Nebraska football helmet.

The ‘N’ of today’s helmets did not make its first debut until 1970. For half a decade before this, Nebraska’s helmets featured an ‘NU’ which stood for Nebraska University. In the early days, the Huskers wore grey face masks and had moved the red numbers from the sides of the helmet to the back. As the years went on, the numbers began to shrink on each new helmet. Though the program never did away with the traditional numbers, Nebraska now has smaller block numbers on the backs of their helmets.

During the 1970 season, the Cornhuskers dropped the ‘U’ from the helmet and stuck with the more recognizable ‘N.’

Once the 1980s hit, Nebraska again made a fundamental branding change to their helmets. What had been a gray facemask for all of the team’s history became a red face mask, unifying the color scheme for brand recognition and making the helmets look more menacing.

Since 1981, this has been the program’s main helmet, with very few alterations made to the standard helmet and very few alternate helmets. In 2009, however, Nebraska rolled out an all-white helmet for their game against ULL. In 2012, Nebraska went with a black base and face mask with red numbers and logos for their showdown with Wisconsin. This look was also only kept for one game.

From 2013 until now, the Cornhuskers have made a few more alternate helmets for single-game use, though nothing that has stuck for more than one game. In 2021, Nebraska rolled out a remake of the original ‘NU’ helmets for their matchup with the University of Buffalo.

The Cornhuskers have stayed true to their roots for over 50 seasons now, and unless something drastic changes, Nebraska’s iconic and recognizable helmets are here to stay.

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