Ohio State to Wear ‘Heritage Stripe’ Uniforms in National Championship Game

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Ohio State Buckeyes will don their ‘Heritage Stripe’ uniforms for the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship game against No. 7 Notre Dame on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This marks the eighth time the team has worn throwback uniforms in a CFP game, as they seek their first national title since 2014.

The ‘Heritage Stripe’ uniforms, featuring white jerseys with gray sleeves and a gray helmet, pay tribute to the 1968 national championship team. They were first introduced during Ohio State’s 2014 championship run, which included a dramatic 42-35 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The Buckeyes have worn their regular uniforms throughout the playoff, making this a special appearance for the championship game.

“We probably would have just been in a traditional stripe for the playoff,” said Kevin Ries, Ohio State’s director of football equipment, in a 2022 interview with The Columbus Dispatch. “We would have never thought to push it as a championship uniform. And then we had that run.”

The ‘Heritage Stripe’ design was primarily used during the 1944-56, 1967-78, and 1988-2005 seasons, periods that included national championships in 1954, 1968, 1970, and 2002. The uniforms were originally considered for the rivalry game against Michigan but were saved for the playoff run.

Notre Dame, the home team for the game, will wear their traditional blue jerseys and gold pants. The matchup also features two iconic helmets: Ohio State’s silver helmets adorned with buckeye leaf stickers and Notre Dame’s golden helmets.

The buckeye leaf stickers on Ohio State’s helmets are a longstanding tradition dating back to 1967. Created by Ohio State trainer Ernie Biggs, the stickers reward players for individual and team achievements. Each sticker is 1.25 inches, and helmets can hold up to 47 stickers per side. “You see a guy with a ton of stickers on his helmet, and you know he’s a dude,” said Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. “The more stickers you have, the more respected you are.”

Ohio State is one of 13 Division I FBS programs that use a helmet decal reward system. Under head coach Ryan Day, players earn stickers for touchdowns, meeting quarterback completion percentage benchmarks, and team successes. Former coach Urban Meyer emphasized the significance of the stickers, stating, “They mean the player did something really good to help the Buckeyes win!”

Each Ohio State player receives a new helmet at the start of the season, ensuring the tradition continues with fresh starts and new opportunities for achievement.