Ranking Ole Miss Rebels Football Helmet Designs
The Ole Miss Rebels, like much of college football, have classic looks, and they have more "modern" alternate uniforms.
According to The Helmet Project website, the Rebels have worn 16 different helmet designs since the 1960s, and 10 of those have seen the field since the 1994 season. With Lane Kiffin and the Rebels looking to yet again wear 12 different uniform combinations in 2023, The Grove Report is taking a look at each of Ole Miss' helmet designs and ranking them worst-to-first.
Note that some of these designs are lumped together for practicality purposes. For instance, the "patriotic helmets" are in one category despite having been worn with three different shell colors. Even so, here is my best stab at what Ole Miss should...and shouldn't...do with its current helmet lineup.
Let's get to the rankings.
7. Patriotic Helmets (2017-present)
Nov 14, 2020; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) and wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) celebrate during the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
I know, I know. These are popular, and for good reason. It's always good to honor the country for one game each season, and Ole Miss' color scheme lends itself well to an "American Flag" decal. The Rebels have worn this decal on powder blue, white and navy helmets in the past, making it a very versatile design.
Still, I think there are better ways to do this from an aesthetics standpoint. You want to put the flag inside your logo at midfield or maybe even the end zones? That's fine. But, to me, changing a helmet decal to an American flag design has always screamed "mid-major" program. Maybe I'm wrong, but, from a strictly-uniform perspective, I don't love this. The message is great, but I think a jersey patch or something once a year would get the job done.
6. Primary White Helmets (2018-present)
Sep 2, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins (4) reacts with Mississippi Rebels defensive linemen JJ Pegues (89) after a touchdown during the second half against the Mercer Bears at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Again, this is fine, but that's as far as I'll go. White is obviously a color in Ole Miss' arsenal, but this lid simply doesn't look like the Rebels to me, and I think it's become somewhat-overused. If the Rebels are going to wear a white helmet, there are better designs to employ outside of simply mono-red decals. Not my favorite.
5. Realtree Helmets (2022-present)
Oct 1, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) looks to the sideline prior to the snap during the fourth quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
These are popular nationally, and in photos, they look great. On the field, however, I'm not so sure.
It's a great NIL boost for the program, so that outweighs some of the negatives, but it feels rather "busy" to me. If you're going to wear a helmet with the powder blue jerseys, just stick with the powder blue lids. I will say, however, that I'm curious to see how these lids would look with the red jerseys. I think that might improve my opinion.
4. Alternate White Helmet (2022-present)
Sep 3, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Troy Trojans offensive linemen Grant Betts (67) defends Mississippi Rebels defensive end Cedric Johnson (2) during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
By "alternate white," I mean the lids that Ole Miss wore against Troy in 2022 (although it appears that this look has been improved this season). White helmets are not part of Ole Miss' instantly-recognizable brand, so even though this lid isn't bad in practice, it's not great from that perspective.
3. "Sugar Bowl" White Helmets (2021-present)
Jan 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Snoop Conner (24) runs with the ball against the Baylor Bears during the second half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
I've been railing against white lids so far, but this is easily Ole Miss' best look in that category, enough so that it cracked the top three. Honestly, I'm fine seeing this helmet in most circumstances, whether it be with the road jerseys, red jerseys or powder. It's just a clean look, and if Ole Miss is going to wear a white lid, this is it.
2. Navy Blue Helmets (1995-present)
Sep 16, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste (11) reacts with Mississippi Rebels defensive back Ladarius Tennison (13) after a tackle during the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
I really should have listed the final two on this list as "1A and 1B" because, man, they're both elite looks. You see the navy helmets on the field, and you're immediately reminded of names like Eli Manning, Patrick Willis and Bo Wallace. This is instantly-recognizable, and it's a classic look that the Rebels should never do away with. In fact, they should wear it much more than they do now.
1. Powder Blue Helmets (1983-1994, 2014-present)
Sep 30, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) celebrates with running back Quinshon Judkins (4) after a touchdown during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
It's amazing that one of the most popular colors at Ole Miss came to fruition thanks to a mistake in a helmet color years ago. I don't care what jersey these lids are worn with, including the navy threads. This helmet is absolutely perfect.
One of the best things Hugh Freeze ever did in Oxford was revive this look in 2014, paying homage to decades of Ole Miss history in the process. Even if you hear occasional complaints about "the blues don't match," it doesn't matter. That's the point, if you read the history behind it, and it absolutely works.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and this helmet is quintessentially Ole Miss.
