The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have one of the most iconic uniforms in all of sports, the golden helmets instantly recognizable all around the country. But for the first home game of the new 12-team College Football Playoff, there was something different.
Whether or not fans realize it, one of the other iconic features of Notre Dame's jerseys in the regular season is that it's all about the program as players don't have name on the backs of the uniforms. However, that has changed if you've watched the Fighting Irish in the CFP. Whether it was against Indiana in the first round, Georgia in the quarterfinals, or Penn State in the semifinal, you've seen names on the back of the jerseys.
Riley Leonard has his, Jeremiyah Love has his, and so on it goes. It's a drastic change that we've seen in the College Football Playoff and one that seemingly bucks the traditions of the historic college football program when it comes to their uniforms.
But this is hardly an instance of a program forsaking tradition ahead of a big game. In fact, it's embracing tradition, one with as much history at Notre Dame as Touchdown Jesus or anything else.
Why does Notre Dame have names on its jerseys in the CFP?
Notre Dame's typical look, blue or white uniforms with gold helmets, gold pants and no last names anywhere to be found, is the one you have in your head when you picture the Irish taking the field. But it turns out that's just a regular-season thing; once the postseason begins, things change.
A Notre Dame tradition is to add players' names to jerseys for postseason games ONLY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/k5OIKunCja
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 21, 2024
In every postseason game, whether a bowl game or a playoff game, Irish players have their names on the backs of their jerseys. That goes even when playing for a national title, as you can see with former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson during the 2012 BCS title game against Alabama. (We apologize in advance to Irish fans for offering any reminder of that game.)
Which is a fun twist, if we're being honest. It maintains the classic Notre Dame look — there are no alternate color schemes, no wacky patterns involved — but with a little flourish that lets everyone know that this game is truly special. It also offers a bit of an incentive for players, like another version of a helmet sticker; if you want your name on the back of a Notre Dame jersey, you need to earn it with a postseason appearance.