6:00 AM ET Michigan and Ohio State are two of college football’s most recognizable brands, built on decades of winning, iconic coaches and their uniforms. They are easily identifiable by their helmets — not just Michigan’s wings or Ohio State’s scarlet stripe — but the stickers plastered all over them as rewards accrued throughout the season. The Wolverines and Buckeyes are two of 13 FBS teams that currently use helmet decal reward systems, but they do so with different philosophies. The famous Buckeye leaves are awarded for team, unit or individual on-field accomplishments throughout a single season, while Michigan’s stickers display a unique image for each accomplishment and accrue year-over-year. ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg delved into the history, application and operation of this shared but disparate tradition before these two bitter rivals meet in The Game on Saturday. Take a visual tour of the helmets for both schools.
Continue Reading: How helmet decals tell the story of Ohio State and Michigan
