College Football Trivia With Answers

College Football Trivia: Test Your Knowledge of the Gridiron!

Are you a die-hard college football fan? Do you know your Heisman winners from your national champions? This comprehensive college football trivia quiz will put your knowledge to the ultimate test! From legendary coaches to unforgettable games, we've compiled a diverse range of questions to challenge even the most seasoned gridiron expert. Get ready to show off your expertise and learn some new facts along the way! This quiz covers everything from the history of the sport to modern-day rivalries, guaranteeing a fun and engaging experience for all levels of college football enthusiasts.

Section 1: Early Days & Legendary Figures

1. What year was the first official college football game played?

A. 1869 B. 1876 C. 1880 D. 1890

Answer: A. 1869 (Rutgers vs. Princeton)

2. Which college football team is widely credited with inventing the forward pass?

A. Notre Dame B. Yale C. Michigan D. West Point

Answer: A. Notre Dame (Though its use wasn't immediately widespread.)

3. Who is considered the "Father of Modern Football"?

A. Knute Rockne B. Amos Alonzo Stagg C. Pop Warner D. Bear Bryant

Answer: B. Amos Alonzo Stagg (Known for his contributions to the standardization of rules and coaching techniques.)

4. Which legendary coach led Notre Dame to numerous national championships and is famous for his "Four Horsemen" backfield?

A. Bobby Bowden B. Woody Hayes C. Knute Rockne D. Paul "Bear" Bryant

Answer: C. Knute Rockne

5. Which coach, known for his innovative offensive schemes and "Wishbone" formation, had a tremendously successful career at Texas?

A. Tom Landry B. Darrell Royal C. Barry Switzer D. Mack Brown

Answer: B. Darrell Royal

Section 2: Heisman Trophy Winners & Notable Players

6. Who won the first Heisman Trophy in 1935?

A. Doak Walker B. Archie Griffin C. Jay Berwanger D. O.J. Simpson

Answer: C. Jay Berwanger

7. Which player is the only one to win the Heisman Trophy twice?

A. Marcus Allen B. Tim Brown C. Archie Griffin D. Johnny Unitas

Answer: C. Archie Griffin (Ohio State, 1974 and 1975)

8. Which legendary running back played for the University of Southern California (USC) and later had a successful NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers?

A. Gale Sayers B. O.J. Simpson C. Jim Brown D. Walter Payton

Answer: B. O.J. Simpson

9. Who is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history, leading the University of Alabama to multiple national championships?

A. Peyton Manning B. Tom Brady C. Joe Namath D. Joe Montana

Answer: None of the above. While all were great NFL quarterbacks, the answer focuses on college success at Alabama. Considerable debate exists on this, with names like Tua Tagovailoa and others frequently mentioned. The question highlights the difficulty in definitively naming the single "greatest."

10. Which quarterback won the Heisman Trophy in 1986 while playing for the University of Oklahoma, known for his strong arm and exciting playing style?

A. Danny White B. Jason White C. Troy Aikman D. Sam Bradford

Answer: None of the above. The answer is Vinny Testaverde.

Section 3: Conferences, Rivalries, and Championships

11. Which conference is widely regarded as the most dominant in college football in recent decades?

A. Big Ten B. SEC C. Pac-12 D. Big 12

Answer: B. SEC (Southeastern Conference)

12. The "Iron Bowl" is a legendary rivalry game between which two teams?

A. Ohio State and Michigan B. Texas and Oklahoma C. Alabama and Auburn D. Notre Dame and USC

Answer: C. Alabama and Auburn

13. Which two teams play in the annual "Gameday" rivalry?

A. Michigan and Ohio State B. Texas and Oklahoma C. Florida and Florida State D. USC and UCLA

Answer: A. Michigan and Ohio State (While other rivalries feature prominently on ESPN's "GameDay," this is arguably the most consistently featured.)

14. How many teams compete in the College Football Playoff (CFP)?

A. 8 B. 16 C. 4 D. 32

Answer: C. 4

15. Which team won the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015?

A. Clemson B. Alabama C. Ohio State D. Oregon

Answer: B. Alabama

Section 4: Stadiums, Traditions, and More!

16. What is the name of the largest stadium in college football?

A. Michigan Stadium B. Beaver Stadium C. Bryant-Denny Stadium D. Kyle Field

Answer: A. Michigan Stadium (The Big House)

17. Which university is known for its iconic "Script Ohio" marching band formation?

A. University of Michigan B. The Ohio State University C. University of Texas D. University of Notre Dame

Answer: B. The Ohio State University

18. Which college football team is famously associated with the fight song "On Wisconsin"?

A. University of Wisconsin B. University of Minnesota C. University of Iowa D. University of Illinois

Answer: A. University of Wisconsin

19. What is the name of the annual college football bowl game played in Pasadena, California?

A. Rose Bowl B. Sugar Bowl C. Orange Bowl D. Cotton Bowl

Answer: A. Rose Bowl

20. What iconic piece of headgear is associated with the Florida State Seminoles football team?

A. Cowboy Hat B. Fedora C. Gator Hat D. Feather Helmet

Answer: D. Feather Helmet

Section 5: Modern Era & Beyond

21. Which coach led Clemson to multiple national championships in the College Football Playoff era?

A. Nick Saban B. Dabo Swinney C. Urban Meyer D. Jimbo Fisher

Answer: B. Dabo Swinney

22. Which quarterback, known for his exceptional arm strength and leadership, led LSU to a national championship in 2019?

A. Trevor Lawrence B. Justin Fields C. Joe Burrow D. Mac Jones

Answer: C. Joe Burrow

23. The "Game of the Century" in 2006 was played between which two teams?

A. Texas and USC B. Ohio State and Michigan C. Florida and Oklahoma D. Alabama and LSU

Answer: A. Texas and USC

24. What is the name of the annual college football championship game?

A. National Championship Game B. College Football Playoff National Championship C. BCS National Championship Game (now defunct) D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above (Different names have been used throughout history.)

25. Name one significant change in college football rules or regulations in recent years.

(This is an open-ended question allowing for discussion and research) Some examples could include changes to targeting penalties, overtime rules, or transfer portal regulations.

Section 6: Bonus Round – Advanced Trivia

These questions are designed for the true college football aficionado.

26. Who is the all-time leading rusher in NCAA Division I FBS history?

(Requires research; the answer changes occasionally as records are broken)

27. Which team has the longest winning streak in college football history?

(Requires research; historical data needs to be reviewed)

28. Name three Heisman Trophy winners who did not go on to have a successful NFL career.

(Requires extensive knowledge of Heisman winners and their professional careers)

29. Discuss the impact of the "forward pass" on the evolution of college football.

(Requires an essay-like answer, demonstrating a deep understanding of the game's history)

30. Analyze the competitive landscape of college football conferences in the current era, considering factors like recruiting, coaching talent, and media coverage.

(Requires a comprehensive analysis of current college football dynamics)

This comprehensive trivia quiz offers a wide range of questions spanning various aspects of college football history and current events. Whether you're a casual fan or a seasoned expert, you're sure to find questions to challenge and engage you. Remember to research answers you're unsure about – the learning process is half the fun! Go teams!