Short answer: The small stickers on Ohio State (OSU) football helmets are “Buckeye leaf” decals that players earn as rewards for good performances and team achievements during the season.

What the stickers are

• The stickers are small white circles with a green buckeye leaf, representing the buckeye tree and Ohio State’s “Buckeyes” identity.

• A helmet can end up almost covered in these leaves for players who have strong seasons.

What they mean

• Each sticker marks some kind of achievement, like making big plays, contributing to a win, or meeting certain performance goals set by the coaches.

• Players typically earn at least one sticker for each win, with extra stickers for conference wins and especially for beating Michigan, plus additional ones for notable individual stats such as touchdowns or high completion percentages for quarterbacks.

How the tradition started

• Ohio State began using helmet stickers in the late 1960s under coach Woody Hayes, with the idea coming from trainer Ernie Biggs as a motivation and reward system.

• The first stickers were awarded after a standout defensive play in a 1967 game, and the tradition has continued and evolved with later coaches.