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Ranking the SEC’s 2015 helmet designs

Chris Wuensch

By Chris Wuensch

Published:

The 2015 season was a colorful one for the SEC, from the style of play to the fashion of the uniforms. Both Florida and South Carolina appeared in three of the 10 SEC games that featured alternate helmets this season. In fact, an SEC East team played in all but one of the 10 games that featured at least one squad wearing a third helmet.

Here’s a look at the 2015 year in helmets for the SEC.

14. GEORGIA

Georgia hasn’t mixed it up much in the last four year’s helmet-wise and 2015 was no different. Perhaps some fresh blood with new head coach Kirby Smart will inspire the Bulldogs into a bold third option with their helmets. Probably not, though.

NCAA Football: Georgia at Florida

13. ARKANSAS

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema is a self-professed traditionalist, explaining why the Razorbacks haven’t worn the team’s alternate white helmets, which were unveiled last year, during this season. Bielema didn’t rule out the white lids for the team’s Liberty Bowl matchup against Kansas State, but it seems unlikely, given the coach’s proclivity for not tinkering with something when it’s working.

12. MISSISSIPPI STATE

Mississippi State went with white helmets in the Egg Bowl for the first time in five years, having worn gold-accentuated domes against Ole Miss in season’s past. The program also honored the late Keith Joseph Jr. and his father with “MJ” decals.

11. AUBURN

Auburn took a shine to its new helmets, literally. The Tigers added a reflective sheen to their new dome pieces this season to give it a spiffier new look. The chrome-ish style is part of a sweeping trend in college helmets, that’s not the worst thing to happen to the equipment over the years.

10. ALABAMA

Alabama has barely changed their helmets in more than five decades, but there’s something to be said for the traditional Crimson Tide crown replete with uniform number adorned on its side. Among the modifications this year was a No. 28 sticker to honor Altee Tenpenny, a former Tide player who died in an automobile accident in October.

9. LSU

LSU strapped on white helmets for the first time since 2011. It’s a rare occurrence in Death Valley and one the Tigers took advantage of when they suddenly received an extra home game due to the weather-related relocation of its contest against South Carolina. The white helmets were met with mixed fanfare.

Result in white helmets: Defeated South Carolina 45-24

8. FLORIDA

Florida went retro in Week 2 against East Carolina, the team it beat in January’s Birmingham Bowl, donning full orange uniforms for the first time since the 1989 season against Kentucky. Result with orange helmets: Defeated East Carolina 31-24

7. TEXAS A&M

With all apologies, Aggies, every time I see your helmet, all I read is ATM in giant letters and my mind immediately wanders to the excess of money involved in college football. Which brings us to Texas A&M’s third helmet, which they donned on Halloween against South Carolina. These helmets are sweet, for lack of a more colorful adjective, which also happens to be one of the complaints against the lids. They’re a little too dark from a distance.

Result with dark helmets: Defeated South Carolina 35-28

6. MISSOURI

Missouri kept its Arrowhead Stadium tradition alive, unveiling sleek white helmets for its Week 11 tilt against BYU. The Tigers continue to be among the most active when it comes to rolling out new helmets, making them the Oregon of the South — as demonstrated by this handy Tweet:

Result with white helmets: Beat BYU 20-16

5. KENTUCKY

Kentucky Chrome, that sounds like a horse name. Kentucky went with the chrome look against Florida and Auburn this season. You can’t go wrong with the chrome; it looks great at any time of day in any weather. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the shiny helmets aren’t enough to distract opponents. Result with chrome: lost to Florida 14-9 and Auburn 30-27

4. SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina is in a rebuilding mode as Will Muschamp takes over a Gamecock program looking for a new identity. What better way to rebrand than literally with a new logo? South Carolina has a unique mascot that should lend itself to any number of helmet designs. The Gamecocks changed their helmets for both Lou Holtz’ and Steve Spurrier’s first years in Columbia. Perhaps it’s time for a new look in South Carolina. The fiery Gamecock crown they debuted against Florida could work. Result with fiery Gamecock helmet: Lost to Florida 24-14

3. TENNESSEE

Tennessee bucked tradition in Week 6 against Georgia, swapping its traditional white helmets with orange “T” for a “Smokey Grey” layered look that pays homage to the state’s scenery. The new uniforms were designed by Nike as the first part of an eight-year deal. To design the uniforms, according to 247sports, several “representatives from the company made trips to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to study and photograph the scenery and capture it with the new helmets.” Tough job.

Result with the helmet: Beat Georgia 38-31

2. OLE MISS

You want to look good for your bowl game, especially if you’re playing in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss will throw on the powder blues once again for its New Year’s Six game against Oklahoma State. The Rebels previously wore them in their Week 3 upset of Alabama. Result in the powder blue: Defeated Alabama 43-37

1. VANDERBILT

Vanderbilt wins. The Commodores’ season might have sunk like a rusty anchor, but Vandy’s “Deep Water” helmets easily make them tops in the SEC, if not country. Vanderbilt couldn’t wait to unveil the new look, busting them out in Week 2 against Georgia.
Result with Deep Water helmets: Lost to Georgia 31-14

Chris Wuensch

Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.

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