These college football trivia questions bring Saturday traditions, rivalry trophies, Heisman history, classic bowls, famous coaches, and packed stadiums into one 50-point challenge. The five rounds are balanced so casual fans can settle in before the history becomes tougher.
Run the whole set at a tailgate or alumni gathering, or use one 10-question round as a quick halftime game. The concise answers add context without slowing the pace, making the page useful for both competition and discovery.
How to host a college football trivia night
Give players about 20 seconds for terminology and 30 seconds for names or historical results. Award one point per correct answer and settle nickname or school-name variants before the first round. Mixed teams work especially well because regional rivalry knowledge can vary widely.
- Round 1 introduces college rules, language, and game-day traditions.
- Rounds 2 through 4 cover rivalries, Heisman history, bowls, and national championships.
- Round 5 visits iconic stadiums, influential coaches, and a lasting record.
How these college football answers were checked
Rules terminology was checked against NCAA football materials, while Heisman history was cross-checked with the Heisman Trust. Bowl results, championship selections, and historic streaks were reviewed against official school, bowl, and NCAA records. The quiz avoids current rankings, active-season totals, and conference membership that may change during realignment.
Round 1: College Football Rules and Traditions
What does FBS stand for in college football?＋
Football Bowl Subdivision, the NCAA's highest Division I subdivision for the sport.
What is the neutral zone before a college football snap?＋
It is the space between the two scrimmage lines, with its width determined by the length of the ball.
How many feet must a receiver get down in bounds for a college catch?＋
One foot, provided the player also controls the ball and completes the catch requirements.
What does RPO stand for on a college football play call?＋
Run-pass option, a play that lets the quarterback read a defender and choose between a run and a pass.
How many points is a safety worth?＋
Two points for the team that forces the safety.
From which yard line does college football attempt a standard two-point conversion?＋
The three-yard line.
Which school traces its 12th Man tradition to E. King Gill coming down from the stands in 1922?＋
Texas A&M, where Gill stood ready as a substitute during the Dixie Classic.
What object do Clemson players traditionally touch before running down the hill into Memorial Stadium?＋
Howard's Rock, which sits on a pedestal at the top of the hill.
Whom do Iowa fans and players wave to after the first quarter at home games?＋
Children and families watching from the nearby University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
What message appears on the sign Notre Dame players touch before taking the field?＋
Play Like a Champion Today.
Round 2: Rivalries and Teams
Which two schools contest the Iron Bowl?＋
Alabama and Auburn.
Which two teams play for the Little Brown Jug?＋
Michigan and Minnesota.
Which Mississippi rivals meet in the Egg Bowl?＋
Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Which Oklahoma schools traditionally play the Bedlam rivalry?＋
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Which teams play for the Paul Bunyan Trophy?＋
Michigan and Michigan State.
Floyd of Rosedale is the trophy for the rivalry between which schools?＋
Iowa and Minnesota.
Which Indiana rivals play for the Old Oaken Bucket?＋
Indiana and Purdue.
Which teams play for the Jeweled Shillelagh?＋
Notre Dame and USC.
Which two Washington schools contest the Apple Cup?＋
Washington and Washington State.
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate is the rivalry between which teams?＋
Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Round 3: Heisman Trophy History
Who won the first Heisman Trophy, then called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy, in 1935?＋
Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago.
For whom was the Heisman Trophy renamed in 1936?＋
John W. Heisman, the influential coach and former Downtown Athletic Club athletic director.
Who is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice?＋
Ohio State running back Archie Griffin won in 1974 and 1975.
Who became the first Black winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1961?＋
Syracuse running back Ernie Davis.
Who became the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman, in 1997?＋
Michigan cornerback and return specialist Charles Woodson.
Who became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007?＋
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Who became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012?＋
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a redshirt freshman.
Which Naval Academy quarterback won the Heisman in 1963?＋
Roger Staubach.
Which Auburn running back won the 1985 Heisman Trophy?＋
Bo Jackson.
Which Oklahoma State running back won the 1988 Heisman after a record-setting season?＋
Barry Sanders, who rushed for 2,628 yards in the NCAA's official 11-game regular-season statistics.
Round 4: Bowls and Championships
Which team won the first Rose Bowl game in 1902?＋
Michigan defeated Stanford 49-0 in Pasadena.
Which team won the first Sugar Bowl, played after the 1934 season?＋
Tulane defeated Temple 20-14 in New Orleans on January 1, 1935.
Which team won the first Orange Bowl, played on January 1, 1935?＋
Bucknell defeated Miami 26-0.
Which team won the first Cotton Bowl Classic in 1937?＋
TCU beat Marquette 16-6 in Dallas.
Which team won the inaugural Fiesta Bowl in 1971?＋
Arizona State defeated Florida State 45-38.
Which school finished first in the inaugural Associated Press football poll in 1936?＋
Minnesota was crowned the first AP poll national champion.
Which team won the first Bowl Championship Series title for the 1998 season?＋
Tennessee beat Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to finish 13-0.
Which two teams split the major national championship selections for the 1997 season?＋
Michigan finished first in the AP poll, while Nebraska led the coaches' poll.
Which team beat Oklahoma in the 1971 Game of the Century and went on to win the national title?＋
Nebraska won 35-31 in Norman and completed a 13-0 season.
Which team completed a 12-0 season by beating Nebraska in the Rose Bowl for the 2001 national title?＋
Miami won 37-14 to secure the championship.
Round 5: Stadiums, Coaches, and Records
Which school plays in Michigan Stadium, nicknamed the Big House?＋
The Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Which team's home stadium is commonly called the Horseshoe?＋
Ohio State plays at Ohio Stadium, whose shape inspired the nickname.
Which team plays its home games at Tiger Stadium, also called Death Valley?＋
LSU plays there in Baton Rouge.
Which team plays at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, nicknamed the Swamp?＋
The Florida Gators.
Camp Randall Stadium is home to which team?＋
The Wisconsin Badgers in Madison.
Which Notre Dame coach led the Four Horsemen team of 1924?＋
Knute Rockne coached Notre Dame to an undefeated season and a Rose Bowl victory.
Which coach helped develop the single-wing offense and later gave his name to a youth football organization?＋
Glenn Scobey 'Pop' Warner.
Which coach led Florida State to national championships for the 1993 and 1999 seasons?＋
Bobby Bowden.
Which Nebraska coach won three national championships in his final four seasons?＋
Tom Osborne won titles for the 1994, 1995, and 1997 seasons.
Which team set the major-college record with 47 consecutive victories from 1953 through 1957?＋
Oklahoma, coached by Bud Wilkinson.
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