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5 New College Football Helmet Stickers We Love

College football teams are using helmet stickers for good reasons.
Pat Benson|
The Tennessee Volunteers are honoring Dolly Parton.
The Tennessee Volunteers are honoring Dolly Parton. | @Vol_Football

Week 1 of the 2026 college football season kicked off last night. From a football and uniform perspective, it did not disappoint. While we have already ranked the 10 best uniforms for Week 1, some teams are still adding last-minute details.

From heartfelt tributes to legends to academic recognition, there are some amazing helmet stickers making their on-field debut this week. Below are five new college football helmet stickers we love right now.

Tennessee Volunteers

The country, and especially the state of Tennessee, lost a legend last week. Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80. While it's tough for us Tennesseans to deal with such a loss, the Volunteers are celebrating Parton's iconic legacy all season long. The Dolly signature over a butterfly will grace every Vols helmet this season.

"All that she's meant across the world, this country, and certainly the Queen of East Tennessee," said Volunteers coach Josh Heupel. "A lady that was extremely proud of her roots. You look at her impact, just her ability to give back, make an impact to people, certainly here in East Tennessee. She means a lot to people across this country, but certainly here inside the state of Tennessee, too."

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will celebrate the life of legendary coach Lou Holtz with a helmet sticker this season. Holtz coached the Fighting Irish for 11 seasons. He passed away in March 2026 at the age of 89.

The black-and-white decal says "LOU," with two index fingers forming the letter 'L,' nodding to his first initial. Most younger football fans will remember Holtz for his role as a television studio analyst on ESPN, while older fans will remember how he got Notre Dame back on top in the 1980s.

East Carolina Pirates

The East Carolina Pirates will show a sign of support for former running back Chris Johnson as he battles ALS. Before his remarkable 10-year NFL career, Johnson helped carry the Pirates football team from 2004 to 2007. The decal features Johnson's name, jersey number (5), and a ribbon for ALS Awareness.

Northern Illinois Huskies

The Northern Illinois Huskies will celebrate the life of legendary coach Joe Novak. In July, Novak passed away at the age of 81. From 1996 to 2007, Novak led the Huskies to national relevance, along with pulling off some dramatic upsets. The decal features his initials, dog bones (representing "Boneyard Victories"), and T.H.W. (The Hard Way, nodding to Novak's team culture).

Chicago Maroons

The Chicago Maroons are championing the school's academic excellence with a sticker celebrating the school's "101 and counting" Nobel Prize recipients. How can you not love college football?

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers team uniforms and player apparel for Jerseys On Sports Illustrated. Pat is a trusted voice for fans, regularly breaking news, spotlighting important stories, and interviewing the biggest names in sports. Pat also covers the footwear industry and has authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020." You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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