When the college-football season kicks off next week, players on nine Division I teams will be wearing helmets designed to detect concussions, according to the Associated Press.
In recent years, college athletes have reported a steady rise in concussions, with football accounting for the biggest share. At least one expert has called head injuries in sports a “hidden epidemic.”
The new helmets, made by Riddell, are designed to monitor the impact of big hits, giving coaches more information to help them decide whether to pull players out of games. Among the teams using the helmets this season are four in the Big Ten. —Brad Wolverton
