USA TODAY columnist Blake Toppmeyer questioned whether the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would hold a No. 6 national ranking without their iconic golden helmets, in a piece published Saturday on Yahoo Sports.
Toppmeyer's column, dated October 31, 2026, examines the influence of the program's distinctive headgear on perception and polling. The golden helmets have been a hallmark of Notre Dame football for decades.
The article does not disclose specific ranking methodology or poll details, but raises the broader issue of brand identity affecting team evaluations in college football.
