USA TODAY columnist Blake Toppmeyer questions whether the Notre Dame football team would hold a No. 6 ranking if not for the program's iconic golden helmets. In a piece published Saturday, Toppmeyer examines the influence of the Fighting Irish's distinctive headgear on perception and polling. The article explores the intersection of tradition, branding, and competitive evaluation in college football.
Tradition and Perception
The golden helmets have become a symbol of Notre Dame's storied history, but Toppmeyer argues they may also confer an intangible advantage in rankings. The column invites readers to consider how visual identity shapes narratives in sports.
