Imperial artist crafts another special edition helmet for the Utah Utes [Video]

IMPERIAL, Neb. (KSNB) – The Big 12 football race to the finish line is taking center stage as the end of the season gets closer.

One game that held extra significances was the Utah-Iowa State game from last Saturday, Nov. 23. It wasn’t so much because of the play on the field, but rather for what the Utah football team was wearing.

The helmets Utah wore paid homage to the recovery efforts in Hawaii after the wildfires in 2023. The person who made these works of art calls Imperial, Nebraska, home. Armando Villarreal has painted several helmets for the Utes, and Villarreal said it’s a special time of year when Utah uses his helmets.

“It’s fun, we’re starting to know some of the fans and the personnel and stuff and it’s crazy how much Utah looks forward to the hand-painted every year and you kind of get to be a …