NCAAF News: Why do Buckeyes wear stickers on their helmets?

The Ohio State Buckeyes are as classic and vintage as college football gets. The Buckeyes played their first game in program history in 1890 and has built a rich history ever since. While many changes have rocked the program over the years, their helmet decals have remained constant and the tradition grows stronger.

When the Buckeyes take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the National Championship Game, all eyes in the country are on the football pitch at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Monopolizing attention are the stickers on Ohio State’s shiny silver helmets. But why are they there and what do they symbolize?

The stickers are benchmarks for the accolades and milestones each player achieves throughout the NCAA season. That means there’s a very slim chance no two helmets will look the same when the Buckeyes face the Fighting Irish in the title game.

The tradition dates back to the 1967 seasonas reported by USA todayand was created by Ohio State coach Ernie Biggs. The first player in program history to ever receive a sticker was Jim Neinwho returned an interception for a 45-yard touchdown.

How are stickers earned?

Players on the Buckeyes’ program can earn stickers for their helmets, both through individual achievements and team-based milestones. However, since Ryan Day took over as head coach in 2018, there have been some changes.

Players receive a sticker for each touchdown they account for. Quarterbacks earn a sticker if they meet a certain completion percentage agreed upon entering a game, according to ESPN. In addition they also receive a collective success stickerand especially if that success is against the fiercest competitors.

Players get a sticker for each win, double the amount for each Big Ten win and three for every win over the “Team from Up North”, aka the Michigan Wolverines. These decals have not been awarded since 2019, when the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines by a score of 56-27.

What is the icon on the sticker?

The stickers on Ohio State’s helmets have a buckeye leaf on them. Each helmet can take up to 47 stickers on each side, and the stickers are only used for one season.

When the season is over, the players get new helmets. Thus, while his freshman season is headed for the record books, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will not be wearing his iconic helmet next season and will have to do it all over again.

Sign of respect

Every time Ohio State steps onto the gridiron, tons of respect from the opponent is evident. However, the Silver Helmets and their historical tradition boast another kind of respect—one that also translates into fear in the eyes of their opponents.

“You see a guy with a bunch of stickers on his helmet and you know he’s a guy,” Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka told ESPN in 2022. “The more stickers you have on your helmet, the more respected you are and the more feared you are by an opponent.”

Stickers galore

The Buckeyes must ensure they never run out of stickers as they enter each game believing they will emerge victorious. They can’t afford to be caught without stickers afterwards when a player goes to claim his much deserved sticker.

As a result Ohio State orders nearly 7,500 stickers each year and gives out around 400 decals after each game.