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Where are Notre Dame, Wisconsin playing? Irish- Badgers location for Shamrock Series
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- Where are Notre Dame, Wisconsin playing? Irish- Badgers location for Shamrock Series
For the first time since late November — to the chagrin of Fighting Irish fans — Notre Dame football will take the after its College Football Playoff snub resulted in the team turning down a postseason bowl invit ation .
The first test Marcus Freeman and the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish is Wisconsin , a game that will be played in neither South Bend, Indiana, or in Madison, Wisconsin. Instead, it will take place at one of football's most hallowed grounds and oldest stadiums: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL PROJECTIONS: CFP picks and postseason predictions
Notre Dame and Wisconsin will meet at the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers as part of the 2026 Shamrock Series, the Fighting Irish's signature neutral-site game held every other year.
Quarterback CJ Carr enters Year 2 at the controls of the Notre Dame offense as the betting favorite for college football's highest individual honor, the Heisman Trophy. He threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns on 195-of-293 passing last season, adding three more rushing touchdowns.
Here's what you need to know about why Notre Dame is playing Wisconsin at a neutral site:
Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, has entered hospice care
, according to ABC57 and other reports.
Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for the Fighting Irish
from 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.
Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz during the 1988 season at Notre Dame Stadium.
(Malcolm Emmons, Imagn Images)
Lou Holtz, Head Coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before the NCAA Independent Conference college football game against the University of Purdue Boilermakers on Sept. 24 1988 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz prior to the 1989 Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium.The Irish defeated the Mountaineers 34-21 to win the National Championship and finish the season undefeated at 12-0.
(Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz on the sideline against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 18, 1989.
(Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz walks off the field following a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Nov. 18, 1989 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.
(RVR Photos, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz is carried off the field following their victory over Colorado winning the 1989 National Championship at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1990 in Miami.
(Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz leads his team onto the field during the 1993 season at Notre Dame Stadium.
(Imagn Images)
Lou Holtz, head coach of Notre Dame on the sideline on Sept. 4, 1993: .
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz on the field prior to the game against Stanford Cardinal at Foster Field at Stanford Stadium on Oct. 2, 1993.
(RVR Photos, Imagn Images)
Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish argues with the official during a game against the Northwestern Wildcats on Sept. 3, 1994.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches his players during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1995
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz addresses his team in the locker room post game after playing Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 21, 1995.
(Imagn Images)
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gives some words of encouragement to his quarterback Tom Krug during the Orange Bowl in Miami on Jan. 1, 1996. FSU defeated Notre Dame 31-26.
(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is carried off the field by his team after defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 62-0 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. on Nov. 23, 1996.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish addresses the crowd at the completion of his final home game as Notre Dame head coach on Nov. 23, 1996.
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
Head Coach Lou Holtz of the South Carolina Gamecocks yells at the line judge during the game against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla on Nov. 11, 2000.
(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)
Head coach Lou Holtz of the South Carolina Gamecocks motions for the team to leave the field prior to the start of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 13, 2003 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
Former head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has a statue unveiled before the game against the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Former head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks out for the coin toss with David Grimes, David Bruton and Maurice Crum prior to playing the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
ESPN reporter Lou Holtz looks on during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on Jan. 10, 2011 in Glendale, Ariz.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz speaks during a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun and attended by President Donald Trump at the County War Memorial Coliseum Nov. 5, 2018 in Fort Wayne, Ind.
(Aaron P. Bernstein, Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks with the press alongside former American football player and coach Lou Holtz upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport on Oct. 31, 2020.
(MANDEL NGAN, AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to former college football coach Lou Holtz in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. Holtz is best known for his time as head coach of University of Notre Dame's football team, winning a national championship in the 1988 season.
(Pool photo by Doug Mills via Getty Images)
Lou Holtz leaves the stage during a rally with former President Donald Trump at the Florence Regional Airport on March 12, 2022 in Florence, S.C.
(Sean Rayford, Getty Images)
Former North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Lou Holtz is honored along with his 1973 football team during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium on Oct. 7, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C.
(Rob Kinnan, Imagn Images)
Former Notre Dame Fighting and Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Lou Holtz holds a press conference prior to the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Ark.
(Nelson Chenault, Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, has entered hospice care
, according to ABC57 and other reports.
Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for the Fighting Irish
from 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.
Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
1
/27
Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, has entered hospice care
, according to ABC57 and other reports.
Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for the Fighting Irish
from 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.
Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
2
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz during the 1988 season at Notre Dame Stadium.
(Malcolm Emmons, Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Lou Holtz, Head Coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before the NCAA Independent Conference college football game against the University of Purdue Boilermakers on Sept. 24 1988 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
4
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz prior to the 1989 Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium.The Irish defeated the Mountaineers 34-21 to win the National Championship and finish the season undefeated at 12-0.
(Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE, Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz on the sideline against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 18, 1989.
(Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz walks off the field following a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Nov. 18, 1989 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.
(RVR Photos, Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz is carried off the field following their victory over Colorado winning the 1989 National Championship at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1990 in Miami.
(Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz leads his team onto the field during the 1993 season at Notre Dame Stadium.
(Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Lou Holtz, head coach of Notre Dame on the sideline on Sept. 4, 1993: .
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz on the field prior to the game against Stanford Cardinal at Foster Field at Stanford Stadium on Oct. 2, 1993.
(RVR Photos, Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish argues with the official during a game against the Northwestern Wildcats on Sept. 3, 1994.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches his players during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1995
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz addresses his team in the locker room post game after playing Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 21, 1995.
(Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gives some words of encouragement to his quarterback Tom Krug during the Orange Bowl in Miami on Jan. 1, 1996. FSU defeated Notre Dame 31-26.
(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is carried off the field by his team after defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 62-0 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. on Nov. 23, 1996.
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish addresses the crowd at the completion of his final home game as Notre Dame head coach on Nov. 23, 1996.
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Head Coach Lou Holtz of the South Carolina Gamecocks yells at the line judge during the game against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla on Nov. 11, 2000.
(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Head coach Lou Holtz of the South Carolina Gamecocks motions for the team to leave the field prior to the start of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 13, 2003 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Former head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has a statue unveiled before the game against the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Former head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks out for the coin toss with David Grimes, David Bruton and Maurice Crum prior to playing the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
ESPN reporter Lou Holtz looks on during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on Jan. 10, 2011 in Glendale, Ariz.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz speaks during a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun and attended by President Donald Trump at the County War Memorial Coliseum Nov. 5, 2018 in Fort Wayne, Ind.
(Aaron P. Bernstein, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
President Donald Trump speaks with the press alongside former American football player and coach Lou Holtz upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport on Oct. 31, 2020.
(MANDEL NGAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to former college football coach Lou Holtz in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. Holtz is best known for his time as head coach of University of Notre Dame's football team, winning a national championship in the 1988 season.
(Pool photo by Doug Mills via Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Lou Holtz leaves the stage during a rally with former President Donald Trump at the Florence Regional Airport on March 12, 2022 in Florence, S.C.
(Sean Rayford, Getty Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Former North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Lou Holtz is honored along with his 1973 football team during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium on Oct. 7, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C.
(Rob Kinnan, Imagn Images)
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Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach
Former Notre Dame Fighting and Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Lou Holtz holds a press conference prior to the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Ark.
(Nelson Chenault, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin football location
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Stadium:Lambeau Field
-
Location:Green Bay, Wis.
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The Week 1 matchup between Notre Dame and Wisconsin is set to take place inside historic Lambeau Field, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
RECORD PREDICTIONS: Who will win each conference? How will each team do in 2026?
Why is Notre Dame vs Wisconsin football at Lambeau Field?
Sunday night's primetime meeting between the Fighting Irish and the Badgers at Lambeau Field is part of Notre Dame's Shamrock Series, a tradition that Notre Dame started in 2009 and has been played at neutral-site venues across the country.
It's the first rendition of the Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field, and the third-ever college football game played in the stadium's history (the other two being St. Norbert vs. Fordham in 1983 and Wisconsin vs. LSU in 2016).
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Notre Dame and Wisconsin were originally scheduled to meet in 2020, but the game was postponed to the 2026 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What time is Notre Dame vs Wisconsin football tonight?
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Date:Sunday, Sept. 6
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Time:7:30 p.m. ET
Notre Dame and Wisconsin are slated for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6.
What is Notre Dame's record in Shamrock Series?
Notre Dame enters Sunday's game with a 12-0 record in Shamrock Series games. The Fighting Irish defeated Army 49-14 at Yankee Stadium in 2024 in the last edition of the Shamrock Series.
Sunday marks the second time that Notre Dame and Wisconsin will meet in the Shamrock Series, and the first since the 2021 season. In that 2021 edition of the Shamrock Series, Notre Dame pulled out a commanding 41-13 win over Wisconsin at Soldier Field in Chicago.
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Here's a look at the Fighting Irish's prior results in the series:
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2009:Notre Dame 40, Washington State 14 (Alamodome)
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2010:Notre Dame 27, Army 3 (Yankee Stadium)
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2011:Notre Dame 45, Maryland 21 (FedEx Field)
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2012:Notre Dame 41, Miami 3 (Soldier Field)
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2013:Notre Dame 37, Arizona State 34 (AT&T Stadium)
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2014:Notre Dame 30, Purdue 14 (Lucas Oil Stadium)
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2015:Notre Dame 19, Boston College 16 (Fenway Park)
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2016:Notre Dame 44, Army 6 (Alamodome)
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2018:Notre Dame 36, Syracuse 3 (Yankee Stadium)
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2021:Notre Dame 41, Wisconsin 13 (Soldier Field)
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2022:Notre Dame 28, BYU 20 (Allegiant Stadium)
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2024:Notre Dame 49, Army 14 (Yankee Stadium)
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2026:Notre Dame vs Wisconsin (Lambeau Field)
Who has the best helmet in college football? Here's a look at the 25 best the sport has to offer heading into the 2026 season.
NO. 25 OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma's interlocking "OU" is synonymous with one of the most successful programs in college football history, a logo worn by the likes of Billy Sims, Lee Roy Selmon, Brian Bosworth and, more recently, Adrian Peterson and Baker Mayfield. When paired with a shiny crimson helmet, it's one of the best looks in the sport.
NO. 24 ALABAMA. A look synonymous with college football, Alabama has a simple yet beautifully done design with player numbers. Adorning Alabama helmets since the 1950s, the Crimson Tide haven't changed their look much since then, and don't need to. It makes every player stand out while not messing with tradition. A major flex is using the helmet as a logo and the number representing the total national championships, which is at 18 claimed titles. Some teams have done their own versions of adding player numbers to helmets, but it's a design you always associate with the Crimson Tide.
NO. 23 WYOMING. The flagship university in the Cowboy State, fittingly, has a cowboy as its mascot and with it, an incredible, distinct logo — a silhouette of a cowboy riding a bucking horse. The image, Bucking Horse and Rider, is actually a registered trademark of the state of Wyoming. The university says it represents "the toughness, and the never-say-die spirit that is Wyoming" and, just as important, it looks awfully good on a helmet.
NO. 22 BOISE STATE. The non-Power darling does a great job of using a great logo with an oversized look of the Bronco. Oversized logos on helmets usually look good, but this one stands out with how intense it is, especially how Boise State does a nice touch of really making the eye stand out. It could use it on both sides, but it still comes across perfectly on one. No matter what color the helmet or decal is, it works every single time. It's intense and fierce, matching the tenacity that comes with the blue turf.
NO. 21 WASHINGTON STATE. Wazzu has one of the best logos in college sports, a cougar head created by Randall Johnson in 1936 that spells out the school's initials, "WSU." It has become an iconic symbol for the university and in the broader college football world, thanks in some part to Ol' Crimson, a Washington State flag that has been in the background of every episode of "College GameDay" since 2003.
NO. 20 NEBRASKA. The Cornhuskers became a powerhouse when it added the block "N," and while there's nothing special about it, the helmet still is among the most recognizable. Nebraska has tried different variations with black that have mostly looked decent, but it further proves there is no need to mess with good ol' reliable.
NO. 19 PENN STATE. The Nittany Lions' lids are proudly plain, with a dark blue stripe down the middle marking the only feature other than white on the helmet itself. For years, they defined Penn State's no-frills approach under Joe Paterno. As part of the team's overall uniform, they work exceptionally well, but by itself as a helmet, it's not as remarkable. There's a fine line between iconic and boring and these lean just a little too close to the latter.
NO. 18 UTAH. When you have two primary logos, it's important to choose the best looking one for the helmet. Luckily, you can't go wrong with both the feather and retro "UU" logos, allowing Utah to go a plethora of ways with combinations that always come out clean. Plus, the Rose Bowl helmets with the rose interlocked with the logo is one of the best special editions ever seen. Outside of that, the Utes haven't been afraid to try out bold designs, and they are executed to a tee each time.
NO. 17 ARIZONA STATE. The Sun Devils already have one of the more distinct color combinations in college athletics, with maroon and gold, and while their partnership with Adidas has occasionally made their uniforms a bit all-over-the-place at times, their best looks are some of the best in the country. While there's nothing inherently wrong with their trident helmets, they'd be much higher on this list if they made a full-time move back to Sparky the Sun Devil gracing their lids.
NO. 16 PITT. The Panthers have undergone a series of cosmetic changes over the past 30 years, with their helmets going from the underappreciated "DinoCat" of the Larry Fitzgerald years to the wholly forgettable and uninspired block "PITT" logo . In 2015, the program wisely switched back to the Pitt script that was associated with some of the school's best teams and players. Pairing it with the traditional blue-and-yellow color scheme makes it that much nicer.
NO. 15 HAWAII. While many schools incorporate the shape of their state, it's hard to beat Hawai'i. The Rainbow Warriors proudly display their home with all eight Hawaiian islands adorning one side of the helmet, standing out regardless of the color. The stripe is also unique with feathers that pay homage to the islands' long legacy of chiefs and warriors. There is no state like the Aloha State, and Hawai'i uses it to its advantage.
NO. 14 COLORADO. Colorado's black-and-gold color scheme absolutely pops, especially on the team's gold helmets on characteristically sunny days in Boulder. The mascot silhouette with an interlocking CU imposed over it is a clean look. It's enough to make you forgive that the Buffs' mascot is a bison, not a buffalo.
NO. 13 SAN DIEGO STATE. After decades of putting the school's logo or nickname onto its helmets, San Diego State fully leaned into its identity as the Aztecs and produced one of the most memorable lids in the sport. San Diego State's shiny red helmets feature the unmistakable design of the Aztec sun stone, which blends in just enough with the rest of the helmet that it's not too distracting or obnoxious.
NO. 12 MIAMI. Let Miami show you how a simple touch can turn into a cultural phenomenon. The distinctive green and orange "U" logo took off as the Hurricanes became a powerhouse, so much so Miami can also be referred to as just "The U" with the hand signal to go along with it. There have been some interesting modern designs Miami has done with it, but the classic look with the white helmet reigns supreme.
NO. 11 FLORIDA. Unlike other SEC powerhouses, the Gators haven't had a consistent helmet design over the past 70 years, going from numbers on the side of the helmet to a basic F (which was worn during Steve Spurrier's Heisman Trophy winning 1966 season) to some more, um, regrettable choices . In 1979, though, coach Charley Pell introduced a helmet ahead of his first season that has stood the test of time: an orange lid with a white-and-blue stripe down the middle and "Gators" spelled out in script on the sides. Despite the program's recent struggles, it's a look that has become synonymous with some of the best teams and most explosive offenses in the sport's history.
NO. 10 UCLA. The Bruins struck literal gold in the 1970s when it introduced the script UCLA logo that has gotten some updates over time, but has never faded in beauty. It was so good it wasn't even the same shade as the school's official colors. Now it's more aligned, and the switch to Jordan Brand introduced some really golden shells that shine no matter the time of the day. It perfectly aligns with the stunning views of the Rose Bowl.
NO. 9 TULANE. In their history, the Green Wave have never stuck with one design too terribly long. If they're wise, they won't veer away from what they've got now. In 2017, and after wearing it on their helmet much of the 2016 season, the university adopted the "Angry Wave" as the primary athletic mark. Since then, Tulane has had one of the more unique and eye-popping helmets in the sport, a mark that pops that much more with the school's color scheme of green, sky blue and white. Though with those colors, the Green Wave have seldom had a bad-looking uniform .
NO. 8 USC. The Trojan warriors don the Trojan head, a logo that technically isn't an official one but so perfectly done that it would be impossible to remove. The details of the Trojan headpiece are great on a small scale, making great harmony with the cardinal helmet. Even when USC updated its Trojan logo, it still kept this one that's been around since the 1970s. It holds such high regard that coach Lincoln Riley mandates "the decal should be earned, not just given."
NO. 7 LSU. If this were a ranking of college football uniforms, the Tigers would quite possibly be at the very top. Still, their helmet by itself isn't too bad, either. Though LSU had some variation of a tiger head and the school's name on their helmets for years, it added a purple facemask in 1980 and smartly hasn't deviated since. Though the two things are unrelated, the helmet has been worn for the Tigers' national championships in 2003, 2007 and 2019.
NO. 6 OREGON. The uniform pioneers, there is no true primary helmet for Oregon, but that's fine because just about every innovate design Nike gives them hits hard. The Ducks have found a good blend of tradition (the classic "O") and modernization with the wings, a look that has been so stunning other teams have tried to copy it since then. Whether it's marble, chrome, an eggshell or a shiny green, Oregon has proved there is no such thing as too many helmets.
NO. 5 TEXAS. Everything's bigger in Texas — except the logo gracing the helmet of the football team at the state's flagship university. It's for the better, too. Texas' white helmets with an understated silhouette of a longhorn cattle in burnt orange is a beautiful ode to simplicity. There's a reason why one of the most recognizable programs in the sport has been wearing some variation of these since the early 1960s.
NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE. Bobby Bowden is a legend in Tallahassee, and one of the lasting impacts was him putting the Seminole spear on the helmet. It truly encapsulates the Seminole nickname, while being an outstanding and innovative design that easily recognizable in college football, perhaps even more than the Chief Osceola logo. Mix that with the tomahawk stickers and you easily have of the best helmets in the sport.
NO. 3 OHIO STATE. The Buckeyes' helmet on its own is perfectly fine — a silver lid with a white, black and scarlet stripe down the middle. What truly separates these, though, are what go with the helmet. As the story goes, in 1968, Ohio State trainer Ernie Biggs devised a system to award players helmet stickers that resembled buckeye leaves. That year, the Buckeyes went undefeated and won the national championship. The tradition, like the stickers, stuck and in the decades since, programs around the country have been copying them. None of them look better than the original, though.
NO. 2 NOTRE DAME. No decal, no problem. Let the gold shine for Notre Dame with their golden domes that pay homage to the administration building on campus. Is it plain? Yes, but they stand out above so many other programs, and they went up a notch in 2011 when they literally became gold, shining gorgeously in the sun or the stadium lights. The Fighting Irish use the Shamrock Series to get some fun looks, but you really cannot go wrong with the sensational gold helmets.
NO. 1 MICHIGAN.Shortly after Fritz Crisler was hired as Michigan's head coach in 1938, he left a mark that would be as lasting as the two Big Ten championships and one national championship he'd help the Wolverines win over the course of his tenure. The newly arrived coach introduced a winged helmet, similar to one he had designed and put into place at his previous stop, Princeton. As he saw it , the winged design would allow halfbacks to find open receivers down the field. Not only did it work — Michigan went 71-16-3 under Crisler — but he birthed what remains the best-looking helmet in the country nearly 90 years later.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
Who has the best helmet in college football? Here's a look at the 25 best the sport has to offer heading into the 2026 season.
1
/26
Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
Who has the best helmet in college football? Here's a look at the 25 best the sport has to offer heading into the 2026 season.
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/26
Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 25 OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma's interlocking "OU" is synonymous with one of the most successful programs in college football history, a logo worn by the likes of Billy Sims, Lee Roy Selmon, Brian Bosworth and, more recently, Adrian Peterson and Baker Mayfield. When paired with a shiny crimson helmet, it's one of the best looks in the sport.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 24 ALABAMA. A look synonymous with college football, Alabama has a simple yet beautifully done design with player numbers. Adorning Alabama helmets since the 1950s, the Crimson Tide haven't changed their look much since then, and don't need to. It makes every player stand out while not messing with tradition. A major flex is using the helmet as a logo and the number representing the total national championships, which is at 18 claimed titles. Some teams have done their own versions of adding player numbers to helmets, but it's a design you always associate with the Crimson Tide.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 23 WYOMING. The flagship university in the Cowboy State, fittingly, has a cowboy as its mascot and with it, an incredible, distinct logo — a silhouette of a cowboy riding a bucking horse. The image, Bucking Horse and Rider, is actually a registered trademark of the state of Wyoming. The university says it represents "the toughness, and the never-say-die spirit that is Wyoming" and, just as important, it looks awfully good on a helmet.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 22 BOISE STATE. The non-Power darling does a great job of using a great logo with an oversized look of the Bronco. Oversized logos on helmets usually look good, but this one stands out with how intense it is, especially how Boise State does a nice touch of really making the eye stand out. It could use it on both sides, but it still comes across perfectly on one. No matter what color the helmet or decal is, it works every single time. It's intense and fierce, matching the tenacity that comes with the blue turf.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 21 WASHINGTON STATE. Wazzu has one of the best logos in college sports, a cougar head created by Randall Johnson in 1936 that spells out the school's initials, "WSU." It has become an iconic symbol for the university and in the broader college football world, thanks in some part to Ol' Crimson, a Washington State flag that has been in the background of every episode of "College GameDay" since 2003.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 20 NEBRASKA. The Cornhuskers became a powerhouse when it added the block "N," and while there's nothing special about it, the helmet still is among the most recognizable. Nebraska has tried different variations with black that have mostly looked decent, but it further proves there is no need to mess with good ol' reliable.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 19 PENN STATE. The Nittany Lions' lids are proudly plain, with a dark blue stripe down the middle marking the only feature other than white on the helmet itself. For years, they defined Penn State's no-frills approach under Joe Paterno. As part of the team's overall uniform, they work exceptionally well, but by itself as a helmet, it's not as remarkable. There's a fine line between iconic and boring and these lean just a little too close to the latter.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 18 UTAH. When you have two primary logos, it's important to choose the best looking one for the helmet. Luckily, you can't go wrong with both the feather and retro "UU" logos, allowing Utah to go a plethora of ways with combinations that always come out clean. Plus, the Rose Bowl helmets with the rose interlocked with the logo is one of the best special editions ever seen. Outside of that, the Utes haven't been afraid to try out bold designs, and they are executed to a tee each time.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 17 ARIZONA STATE. The Sun Devils already have one of the more distinct color combinations in college athletics, with maroon and gold, and while their partnership with Adidas has occasionally made their uniforms a bit all-over-the-place at times, their best looks are some of the best in the country. While there's nothing inherently wrong with their trident helmets, they'd be much higher on this list if they made a full-time move back to Sparky the Sun Devil gracing their lids.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 16 PITT. The Panthers have undergone a series of cosmetic changes over the past 30 years, with their helmets going from the underappreciated "DinoCat" of the Larry Fitzgerald years to the wholly forgettable and uninspired block "PITT" logo . In 2015, the program wisely switched back to the Pitt script that was associated with some of the school's best teams and players. Pairing it with the traditional blue-and-yellow color scheme makes it that much nicer.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 15 HAWAII. While many schools incorporate the shape of their state, it's hard to beat Hawai'i. The Rainbow Warriors proudly display their home with all eight Hawaiian islands adorning one side of the helmet, standing out regardless of the color. The stripe is also unique with feathers that pay homage to the islands' long legacy of chiefs and warriors. There is no state like the Aloha State, and Hawai'i uses it to its advantage.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 14 COLORADO. Colorado's black-and-gold color scheme absolutely pops, especially on the team's gold helmets on characteristically sunny days in Boulder. The mascot silhouette with an interlocking CU imposed over it is a clean look. It's enough to make you forgive that the Buffs' mascot is a bison, not a buffalo.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 13 SAN DIEGO STATE. After decades of putting the school's logo or nickname onto its helmets, San Diego State fully leaned into its identity as the Aztecs and produced one of the most memorable lids in the sport. San Diego State's shiny red helmets feature the unmistakable design of the Aztec sun stone, which blends in just enough with the rest of the helmet that it's not too distracting or obnoxious.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 12 MIAMI. Let Miami show you how a simple touch can turn into a cultural phenomenon. The distinctive green and orange "U" logo took off as the Hurricanes became a powerhouse, so much so Miami can also be referred to as just "The U" with the hand signal to go along with it. There have been some interesting modern designs Miami has done with it, but the classic look with the white helmet reigns supreme.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 11 FLORIDA. Unlike other SEC powerhouses, the Gators haven't had a consistent helmet design over the past 70 years, going from numbers on the side of the helmet to a basic F (which was worn during Steve Spurrier's Heisman Trophy winning 1966 season) to some more, um, regrettable choices . In 1979, though, coach Charley Pell introduced a helmet ahead of his first season that has stood the test of time: an orange lid with a white-and-blue stripe down the middle and "Gators" spelled out in script on the sides. Despite the program's recent struggles, it's a look that has become synonymous with some of the best teams and most explosive offenses in the sport's history.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 10 UCLA. The Bruins struck literal gold in the 1970s when it introduced the script UCLA logo that has gotten some updates over time, but has never faded in beauty. It was so good it wasn't even the same shade as the school's official colors. Now it's more aligned, and the switch to Jordan Brand introduced some really golden shells that shine no matter the time of the day. It perfectly aligns with the stunning views of the Rose Bowl.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 9 TULANE. In their history, the Green Wave have never stuck with one design too terribly long. If they're wise, they won't veer away from what they've got now. In 2017, and after wearing it on their helmet much of the 2016 season, the university adopted the "Angry Wave" as the primary athletic mark. Since then, Tulane has had one of the more unique and eye-popping helmets in the sport, a mark that pops that much more with the school's color scheme of green, sky blue and white. Though with those colors, the Green Wave have seldom had a bad-looking uniform .
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 8 USC. The Trojan warriors don the Trojan head, a logo that technically isn't an official one but so perfectly done that it would be impossible to remove. The details of the Trojan headpiece are great on a small scale, making great harmony with the cardinal helmet. Even when USC updated its Trojan logo, it still kept this one that's been around since the 1970s. It holds such high regard that coach Lincoln Riley mandates "the decal should be earned, not just given."
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 7 LSU. If this were a ranking of college football uniforms, the Tigers would quite possibly be at the very top. Still, their helmet by itself isn't too bad, either. Though LSU had some variation of a tiger head and the school's name on their helmets for years, it added a purple facemask in 1980 and smartly hasn't deviated since. Though the two things are unrelated, the helmet has been worn for the Tigers' national championships in 2003, 2007 and 2019.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 6 OREGON. The uniform pioneers, there is no true primary helmet for Oregon, but that's fine because just about every innovate design Nike gives them hits hard. The Ducks have found a good blend of tradition (the classic "O") and modernization with the wings, a look that has been so stunning other teams have tried to copy it since then. Whether it's marble, chrome, an eggshell or a shiny green, Oregon has proved there is no such thing as too many helmets.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 5 TEXAS. Everything's bigger in Texas — except the logo gracing the helmet of the football team at the state's flagship university. It's for the better, too. Texas' white helmets with an understated silhouette of a longhorn cattle in burnt orange is a beautiful ode to simplicity. There's a reason why one of the most recognizable programs in the sport has been wearing some variation of these since the early 1960s.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE. Bobby Bowden is a legend in Tallahassee, and one of the lasting impacts was him putting the Seminole spear on the helmet. It truly encapsulates the Seminole nickname, while being an outstanding and innovative design that easily recognizable in college football, perhaps even more than the Chief Osceola logo. Mix that with the tomahawk stickers and you easily have of the best helmets in the sport.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 3 OHIO STATE. The Buckeyes' helmet on its own is perfectly fine — a silver lid with a white, black and scarlet stripe down the middle. What truly separates these, though, are what go with the helmet. As the story goes, in 1968, Ohio State trainer Ernie Biggs devised a system to award players helmet stickers that resembled buckeye leaves. That year, the Buckeyes went undefeated and won the national championship. The tradition, like the stickers, stuck and in the decades since, programs around the country have been copying them. None of them look better than the original, though.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 2 NOTRE DAME. No decal, no problem. Let the gold shine for Notre Dame with their golden domes that pay homage to the administration building on campus. Is it plain? Yes, but they stand out above so many other programs, and they went up a notch in 2011 when they literally became gold, shining gorgeously in the sun or the stadium lights. The Fighting Irish use the Shamrock Series to get some fun looks, but you really cannot go wrong with the sensational gold helmets.
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Who has the best helmet in college football? We rank the top 25
NO. 1 MICHIGAN.Shortly after Fritz Crisler was hired as Michigan's head coach in 1938, he left a mark that would be as lasting as the two Big Ten championships and one national championship he'd help the Wolverines win over the course of his tenure. The newly arrived coach introduced a winged helmet, similar to one he had designed and put into place at his previous stop, Princeton. As he saw it , the winged design would allow halfbacks to find open receivers down the field. Not only did it work — Michigan went 71-16-3 under Crisler — but he birthed what remains the best-looking helmet in the country nearly 90 years later.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where are Notre Dame, Wisconsin playing? Irish- Badgers location for Shamrock Series
