While dashing through the Chemical Plant, I picked up some item (I don't recall what it was) that turned my rings blue (in the corner).
It didn't seem to make any sort of difference when I got hit and dropped them all, so what do the blue rings signify?
Best Answer
Apparently, this pickup is called a Combine Ring, which has only been in one other Sonic game (Knuckles Chaotix).
The powerup causes your rings to group themselves into larger rings when you drop them, making them easier to pick up.
I must have gotten more of these than I thought, because I assumed the giant rings were just a new feature since it seemed to happen a lot of the times I dropped my rings in large quantities...