Minnesota Reveals Ivy-Themed Helmets for Wrigley Field Game vs. NW in New Photos

Even though Northwestern is the designated home team for Saturday's game at Wrigley Field, Minnesota didn't pass up the opportunity to acknowledge the stadium's signature feature.

The Golden Gophers' helmet design features ivy covering the logo on the sides and along the gold and white stripe on the top.

Wrigley Field is best known as the home of the Chicago Cubs, but it does have an extensive history hosting football games. The Chicago Bears called it their home from 1921 to 1970 before Soldier Field opened.

The 2010 season saw Wrigley Field host its first college football game since 1938. Northwestern, which is within 10 miles of the stadium from its main campus, lost to Illinois 48-27 on November 20, 2010.

It took 11 years before the Wildcats played another game at Wrigley, also against Illinois in November 2021.

This season has seen Northwestern host back-to-back games at Wrigley Field. The Wildcats lost to Michigan last week.

Northwestern said in a Nov. 13 statement to Colin Salao of Front Office Sports that the Minnesota game will likely be its final time using Wrigley as its home base because the new $862 million Ryan Field stadium on campus will be ready for the start of the 2026 season.

Wrigley Field originally opened in 1914, but the ivy on the outfield walls didn't become part of the stadium lore until 1937 when it was planted under the direction of Elmer Clavey, owner of a local nursery in Highland Park.