Editor’s note: Stay updated with live scores, updates, and highlights from the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame national championship game.

In Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game, it’s a thrilling uniform matchup between the 7th ranked Notre Dame and 8th ranked Ohio State.

Notre Dame is set to wear their signature blue jerseys paired with gold pants as the home team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while the Buckeyes will sport their white away uniforms complemented by gray sleeves, marking the first time Ohio State has worn this look since their 2022 CFP semifinal against Georgia.

Both teams are also showcasing two of the most recognized and classic helmets in college football, with Ohio State’s distinguished silver helmets adorned with stickers contrasting nicely against Notre Dame’s famous golden helmets.

These stickers represent accomplishments earned throughout the season for players at Ohio State, and by season’s end, many helmets are covered in buckeye leaves.

Here’s what you need to know about the helmet stickers of Ohio State as they head into the CFP championship game on Monday:

What do the stickers on Ohio State’s helmets represent?

According to The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio State’s helmets feature stickers designed as buckeye leaves, which come from the buckeye tree — the official state tree of Ohio.

Why do Ohio State players wear stickers on their helmets? A look at the tradition

The reason is rooted in tradition.

This practice began in the 1967 season, created by Ohio State trainer Ernie Biggs. As highlighted in a 2022 article by ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg, Jim Nein was the first player to earn a sticker after he scored on a 45-yard interception return during Ohio State’s 30-0 victory over Oregon.

The stickers also seem to have a motivational purpose for the players, reflecting Biggs’ original intent in starting this tradition.

“You see a guy with a ton of stickers on his helmet, and you know he’s a player,” Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka shared with ESPN in 2022. “The more stickers you have, the more respect you gather, and the more you are feared by your opponents.”

What are the dimensions of the stickers on Ohio State’s helmets?

As reported by ESPN, each sticker measures 1.25 inches. A Riddell helmet has about 181.3 square inches of usable area, allowing room for up to 47 stickers on each side of the helmet.

Once a helmet is filled, any additional stickers are kept in a running tally for record-keeping.

When a player first receives a sticker, an equipment team member places it at the lower left of the helmet’s middle stripe. Subsequent stickers are then arranged in a pyramid style, with the leaves’ stems angled down and slightly forward to harmonize with the helmet’s shape.

Are there other college football teams that use decal stickers on their helmets?

While Ohio State is well-known for its helmet stickers, they aren’t the only college team to implement such a reward system.

In fact, there are 13 Division I FBS programs that use similar helmet decal systems, as noted by ESPN.

How does a player earn a sticker on their helmet at Ohio State?

The process, in short, depends on the current head coach of the Buckeyes.

Generally, Ohio State players may earn stickers for individual accomplishments or when the team achieves specific milestones. This approach is different from how “That Team Up North” manages their sticker system, which primarily focuses on team contributions.

“They are stickers, and each one signifies that the player made a significant contribution to help the Buckeyes win!” former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer explained on X (formerly Twitter) in 2019 in a response to a fan.

Under Ryan Day’s leadership since 2018, the criteria for earning stickers has slightly changed. Players receive one sticker for every touchdown they contribute, while quarterbacks earn one if they achieve a predetermined completion percentage set before a game.

There are also instances where players can earn stickers based on team performance, contingent on Ohio State reaching specific benchmarks. The benchmarks and corresponding sticker values are as follows:

• One sticker for each victory
• Two stickers for every Big Ten win
• Three stickers for winning against Michigan in “The Game”

Do Ohio State players keep their helmet stickers from season to season?

No. As reported in the Columbus Dispatch, each Buckeyes player receives a new helmet every season, regardless of their eligibility year.