50 Fun Facts About College Football

Who was the first player to win the Heisman Trophy twice?

Archie Griffin of Ohio State won the Heisman Trophy in both 1974 and 1975, making him the only two-time winner in the award's history.

Which university has won the most AP national championships in college football?

Alabama holds the record with the most AP national championships, reflecting the program's dominance across multiple eras of college football.

What is the name of the rivalry game played between Ohio State and Michigan?

Simply known as 'The Game,' the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is one of the fiercest in all of sports and has often had national championship implications.

Which bowl game is traditionally played on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California?

The Rose Bowl, known as 'The Granddaddy of Them All,' has been played in Pasadena since 1902 and is the oldest bowl game in college football.

What is the mascot of the University of Alabama?

Alabama's teams are known as the Crimson Tide, and their elephant mascot is named Big Al. The 'Crimson Tide' nickname originated from a 1907 newspaper account.

Which coach led Alabama to six national championships and is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in college football history?

Nick Saban won six national championships at Alabama (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020), making him the most successful coach in the modern era of college football.

In what year did the College Football Playoff (CFP) begin?

The College Football Playoff debuted in the 2014-15 season, replacing the BCS system. The first CFP National Championship was won by Ohio State.

Which university is known as 'Touchdown Jesus' due to a mural on the side of its library?

The 'Word of Life' mural on the Hesburgh Library at Notre Dame depicts Christ with raised arms, resembling a touchdown signal and earning the nickname 'Touchdown Jesus.'

What trophy is awarded to the winner of the Army-Navy game?

The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of the triangular series among Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the Army-Navy game often being the deciding contest.

Which conference is known as 'The Big House' referring to its largest stadium?

Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten, is known as 'The Big House' and is the largest stadium in the United States with a capacity exceeding 107,000.

Which SEC rivalry game is known as the 'Iron Bowl'?

The Iron Bowl is the annual rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn. The name comes from the iron and steel industry in Birmingham, where the game was historically played.

What tradition involves Clemson players running down a hill and touching Howard's Rock before home games?

Before each home game at Memorial Stadium ('Death Valley'), Clemson players rub Howard's Rock at the top of a hill and then run down the hill onto the field, a tradition started in 1966.

Which coach has the most all-time wins in NCAA Division I FBS history?

Joe Paterno of Penn State holds the record for the most wins in Division I FBS history with 409 official victories spanning his career from 1966 to 2011.

What is the name of the live mascot at the University of Texas?

Bevo is a live Texas Longhorn steer who serves as the mascot for the University of Texas. The tradition dates back to 1916.

Which school's fight song includes the lyric 'Hail to the Victors'?

'The Victors,' written by Louis Elbel in 1898, is the fight song of the University of Michigan and is one of the most recognized college fight songs in America.

Which player won the 2020 Heisman Trophy while playing for Alabama?

DeVonta Smith became the first wide receiver since Desmond Howard in 1991 to win the Heisman Trophy, earning the award in 2020 after a dominant season at Alabama.

What SEC school's home games feature the tradition of fans shaking pompoms known as 'Calling the Hogs'?

'Calling the Hogs' (or 'Wooo Pig Sooie') is a cheer unique to the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, where fans raise their arms and yell in unison before kickoff and during big plays.

Which conference did Nebraska, Colorado, and USC all belong to in 2024?

Following major conference realignment, USC and Colorado joined the Big Ten, alongside longtime member Nebraska. The Big Ten expanded significantly in the 2020s.

What is the name of the annual rivalry game between USC and UCLA?

The Victory Bell is the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual USC-UCLA football game. The bell was originally a gift to UCLA and was 'stolen' by USC fraternity members in 1941.

Which university introduced the 'Gator Chomp' as a signature fan gesture?

The University of Florida Gators' fans perform the 'Gator Chomp' by extending both arms and snapping them together to mimic an alligator's jaws. It became a signature tradition of Gator Nation.

Which team won the first College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2015?

Ohio State, the fourth seed, won the inaugural CFP National Championship by defeating Oregon 42-20. The Buckeyes were led by third-string quarterback Cardale Jones.

What is the longest winning streak in major college football history?

Oklahoma holds the record for the longest winning streak in major college football history with 47 consecutive victories from 1953 to 1957 under coach Bud Wilkinson.

Which Heisman Trophy winner was known as 'Johnny Football'?

Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, nicknamed 'Johnny Football,' became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012 after a spectacular season.

What do LSU fans traditionally bring to Tiger Stadium, giving it the nickname 'Death Valley'?

Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge is called 'Death Valley' due to the overwhelming crowd noise generated by 102,000+ fans. Games have literally registered on seismographs.

Which former college football coach was known as 'Bear' and coached Alabama for 25 years?

Paul 'Bear' Bryant coached Alabama from 1958 to 1982, winning six national championships. He got his nickname from wrestling a bear as a teenager.

Which bowl game is annually played in New Orleans and is part of the New Year's Six?

The Sugar Bowl has been played in New Orleans since 1935 and is one of the six premier bowl games that rotate as CFP semifinal hosts.

What is a 'Hail Mary' in football?

A 'Hail Mary' is a very long forward pass thrown in desperation, typically as time expires. The term became popular after Doug Flutie's famous pass for Boston College in 1984.

Which school is known for its 'Midnight Yell Practice' tradition?

Texas A&M's 'Midnight Yell Practice' takes place at midnight before home games in Kyle Field. Tens of thousands of fans gather to practice yells (not cheers) led by Yell Leaders.

Which running back set the NCAA single-season rushing record with 2,628 yards in 1988?

Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State rushed for an astonishing 2,628 yards in the 1988 regular season, a record that still stands. He won the Heisman Trophy that year.

What color are the goalposts typically painted in college football?

College football goalposts are painted yellow or gold, distinguishing them from NFL goalposts which are also yellow. Fans at some schools tear them down after big victories.

What is the name of the trophy awarded to the winner of the Florida-Georgia game?

The Florida-Georgia game, known as 'The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,' does not have an official trophy between the two schools, though it remains one of the SEC's biggest rivalries played annually in Jacksonville.

Which school's fans are known for 'Boomer Sooner,' one of the most frequently played fight songs?

'Boomer Sooner' is the fight song of the University of Oklahoma. It's played so frequently during games — often after every positive play — that opposing fans consider it one of the most relentless songs in college football.

Which school's mascot is a live bulldog named Uga?

Uga is a line of white English Bulldogs that have served as the mascot for the University of Georgia since 1956. Each successive bulldog is given a Roman numeral.

What famous play is known as 'The Play' in college football history?

'The Play' refers to the final kickoff return of the 1982 Cal-Stanford game, where Cal players executed five laterals while running through the Stanford band, which had prematurely taken the field.

Which coach is credited with inventing the forward pass as a regular offensive weapon at Notre Dame?

While he didn't technically invent the forward pass, Knute Rockne and teammate Gus Dorais popularized it in Notre Dame's 1913 upset of Army, revolutionizing offensive football.

What is the 'turnover chain' tradition associated with?

The Miami Hurricanes introduced the 'Turnover Chain' in 2017 — a large, gaudy chain worn by defensive players who force turnovers. It became one of college football's most viral traditions.

Which school plays its home games at 'The Horseshoe' (Ohio Stadium)?

Ohio Stadium, known as 'The Horseshoe' or 'The Shoe,' has been Ohio State's home since 1922. Its distinctive horseshoe shape open at the south end is an iconic college football landmark.

What was the name of the system used to determine the national champion before the CFP and BCS?

Before the BCS (1998) and CFP (2014), national champions were determined by polls — primarily the AP (media) and Coaches polls, which sometimes awarded split championships.

Which team's fans ring cowbells during games, a tradition unique in the SEC?

Mississippi State Bulldogs fans are famous for ringing cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium. The tradition was actually banned by the SEC for years before being allowed with restrictions.

Which famous play in the 2013 Iron Bowl saw Auburn return a missed field goal for a touchdown to win the game?

The 'Kick Six' occurred when Auburn's Chris Davis returned a missed 57-yard Alabama field goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving Auburn a 34-28 victory.

How many teams were in the original College Football Playoff format when it launched in 2014?

The original CFP format featured just four teams selected by a committee. The format later expanded to 12 teams starting with the 2024-25 season.

What is the 'Red River Rivalry' (now Red River Showdown)?

The Red River Rivalry is the annual game between Texas and Oklahoma, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas at the State Fair of Texas. The stadium is split 50/50 with crimson and burnt orange.

Which school introduced the 'Tomahawk Chop' chant and arm motion to college football?

Florida State Seminoles fans popularized the Tomahawk Chop — a synchronized arm motion accompanied by a chant — in the late 1980s. It has since been adopted by other sports teams.

Who was the first Heisman Trophy winner in 1935?

Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago was the first winner of the Heisman Trophy (originally the DAC Trophy) in 1935. He was also the first player drafted in the NFL Draft.

Which college football team is nicknamed the 'Crimson Tide'?

The Alabama Crimson Tide got their nickname from a 1907 newspaper article describing the team's play in a muddy game against Auburn. The writer noted the team's crimson jerseys covered in red mud.

What Boise State play in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl involved a running back proposing to his girlfriend on the field after the game?

Boise State's Ian Johnson scored the winning two-point conversion on a Statue of Liberty play to beat Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, then proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on the field.

Which school's stadium is built between two campus buildings and is known as 'Between the Hedges'?

Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia is known as 'Between the Hedges' due to the privet hedges that line the field. The hedges were planted in 1929 when the stadium opened.

Which quarterback led Clemson to back-to-back national championship appearances, winning in 2018?

Trevor Lawrence led Clemson to the national championship as a true freshman in the 2018 season, defeating Alabama 44-16. He went 34-2 as Clemson's starter.

What is 'College GameDay,' the popular ESPN show that broadcasts live from a different campus each Saturday?

ESPN's College GameDay has been broadcasting live from college campuses since 1993. The show features celebrity guest pickers and fans with creative signs and has become a Saturday morning tradition.

Which FBS program has the longest active home winning streak as of 2024, with their stadium being nicknamed 'Death Valley'?

Clemson's Memorial Stadium, also called 'Death Valley,' has been the site of one of the longest home winning streaks in modern college football, with the Tigers rarely losing at home during their dominant run.