Maryland and Minnesota Unveil Alternate Football Helmets

The 2026 college football season kicks off in less than a week, and the uniform news isn't slowing down. While some teams made splashy announcements months ago, others are waiting until hype is at an all-time high.

On Monday afternoon, two Big Ten teams announced new alternate helmets for the new campaign: the Maryland Terrapins and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Below is a detailed look and breakdown of each team's new lid.

Maryland Celebrates Hispanic Heritage

¡Somos Los Terps! 🐢 pic.twitter.com/RDylqqgIFE
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 24, 2026

Maryland will wear special "Los Terps" helmets against the Virginia Tech Hokies on September 19. Hispanic Heritage Night will celebrate the diversity in the DMV area, the University of Maryland, and the football team. It coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month.

Maryland becomes one of the first college football teams to wear a helmet with Spanish writing on it. The lid features Maryland's iconic shade of red with a white stripe outlined in black. The facemask is white, with the "Los Terps" script providing the final touch.

Special Los Terps helmets got @TerpsFootball to wear for their Hispanic Heritage Night vs Virginia Tech.#uniswag pic.twitter.com/bnlLwVt2qW
— UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) August 24, 2026

Gamers will get in on the action, as the helmets will appear in EA SPORTS College Football 27 on September 3. As Under Armour's flagship school, Maryland continues to be one of the best-dressed programs in all of college football.

Minnesota's Chrome Helmets Are Back

Chrome is Back 〽️#RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers pic.twitter.com/9xzZJq3dRb
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) August 24, 2026

Minnesota shared a hype video on social media with a three-word message that energized fans: "Chrome is back." The alternate helmet features a chromey shade of Metallic Gold with the legendary "M" logo and stripe appearing in Maroon and White. Even the Maroon facemask has a glossy finish.

The Golden Gophers' chrome helmets were a fan favorite from 2018 through 2023. They were synonymous with the rise of head coach P.J. Fleck's program. However, the Nike-sponsored team stopped wearing them in 2024 as the colors clashed with the new uniform templates. The team embraced a more traditional look, but it did not take long for them to bring back the popular look.

The Gold Chrome lids are officially back for @GopherFootball this season.#uniswag pic.twitter.com/7ZyRNxdVjY
— UNISWAG (@UNISWAG) August 24, 2026

Unlike Maryland, there was no press release from Minnesota. So, we do not know when the team will rock the headwear this season. Thanks to their wide range of uniforms, the options are limitless. But a home game seems like the safest bet.

Maryland and Minnesota just raised the bar for the rest of the Big Ten. Let's see what other surprises teams have in store for the upcoming season. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Jerseys On SI for all your uniform news from the sports world and beyond.

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