{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/maryland_helmets_0.jpg","caption":"

Maryland has been at the cutting edge of innovation when it comes to football uniforms ever since signing a deal to become the flagship university of the Under Armour brand in 2008. And when it comes to those uniforms, especially in regards to Maryland, the first thing people often notice is the helmet. Here's a ranking of every Terps helmet over the last two decades, including a few that debuted before the UA deal.

"},{"index":3,"title":"18. Black Ops","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2012-2014_terps.jpg","caption":"

These helmets could rank last based on how the team performed in them, failing to win a game over several years. But ultimately, they're last because they're boring, even if they do look good.

"},{"index":5,"title":"17. All red Maryland pride","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2016_terps.jpg","caption":"

There are several versions of the Maryland Pride 2.0 helmets, but the red ones are by far the worst. It's just too much ... red. The design is legendary, but this color scheme isn't it.

"},{"index":7,"title":"16. 1961 throwbacks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2015_terps.jpg","caption":"

These helmets, inspired by the team's 1961 look, were brought back for a game in 2015. They're incredibly bland, but the "M" logo on the front was a nice touch.

"},{"index":9,"title":"15. 125th anniversary throwbacks","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/15._2017_terps_0.jpg","caption":"

Yellow is still one of the Terps' school colors, but it isn't nearly as prominent as it was for them in the 1940's. Maryland was barely recognizable when it rocked these helmets in 2017.

"},{"index":11,"title":"14. All black with single flag stripe","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2011_terps_1.jpg","caption":"

Similar to the black ops helmet, not enough innovation here for me to rank it any higher. While not an awful look, I can't give credit for not trying.

"},{"index":13,"title":"13. Old Maryland pride","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2011-2012_terps.jpg","caption":"

I admit, as a Marylander, when this helmet was first introduced, I was incredibly excited. Outsiders hated it, but I defended them. My pride was too stoked to notice how jarring this helmet truly is. As a look, splitting the flag right down the middle and slapping it on either side of the helmet didn't age well.

"},{"index":15,"title":"12. White Maryland flag","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2012-2014_terps_2.jpg","caption":"

This helmet was the definition of "decent." I did't love them, but I also didn't hate them. They got the job done.

"},{"index":17,"title":"11. White Ops","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2012-2014_terps_3.jpg","caption":"

This helmet took the innovation of the original Maryland pride look, but toned it down just a bit by removing all the colors. It proved to be a pretty good look without all the distracting contrast.

"},{"index":19,"title":"10. Battle of Baltimore","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2014_terps.jpg","caption":"

At a glance, nothing about this helmet says Maryland. But looking beyond that, it was a pretty cool look the Terps unveiled in 2014 for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

"},{"index":21,"title":"9. Maryland flag over M logo","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2000_terps.jpg","caption":"

Maryland brought in the 21st century with this helmet, and it's one many fans may associate with losing. But I think a modernized version of this helmet would look great.

"},{"index":23,"title":"8. All white Maryland pride","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2015-2016_terps_2.jpg","caption":"

The details in the Maryland pride helmet is what makes it so great, but they're kind of faint on the all white version, which is the only reason this doesn't rank higher.

"},{"index":25,"title":"7. White with Terps script","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2001-2010_terps.jpg","caption":"

This helmet is what the Terps wore for most of the early 2000's, just before introducing the Under Armour era of helmets. It had the iconic Terps script on the side of a white helmet, with several stripes down the middle. Truly a great look.

"},{"index":27,"title":"6. Black Maryland flag","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2012-2014_terps_1.jpg","caption":"

The Maryland flag really looked great over this matte black helmet. That extra pop was the difference between this look at No. 6 and the white version at No. 12.

"},{"index":29,"title":"5. Shellmet","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2011_terps_2.jpg","caption":"

I may be in the minority here, but I really liked this look. It was innovative, far from ordinary but not completely ridiculous. These helmets found a way to blend elements of Maryland and Terrapins, something no other helmet has done.

"},{"index":31,"title":"4. Maryland pride","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2013-2017_terps.jpg","caption":"

These helmets are the predecessors to today's helmets, with the only difference being the large Maryland text scribbled across the back. That was the difference between where these ended up the list and where today's version is.

"},{"index":33,"title":"3. All black Maryland pride","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2015-2016_terps_1.jpg","caption":"

The extra yellow in the font on the back of the standard pride helmet is a bit much, but these all black versions fix that issue. Such a great looking helmet.

"},{"index":35,"title":"2. Red with Terps script","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2019_terps_0.jpg","caption":"

Remember the white version of these? Well this is the OG version; the all red helmets with the Terps script on the side. Maryland brought these back for its homecoming game in 2019 to pay homage to the teams of the 1980s.

"},{"index":37,"title":"1. Modern Maryland pride","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/washington/2020/06/11/2018-2019_terps_0.jpg","caption":"

The Terps removed the giant Maryland lettering from the back of their Maryland pride helmets and the simplfied look is the result. These are the helmets Maryland currently rocks, and after years of experimenting, it seems the Terps have settled on a helmet that is truly the best.

"}]}

Ranking every Maryland football helmet over the last 20 years