Pro or College - Same Nickname Quiz

Answer: Western Michigan

The Denver Broncos were one of the charter members of the American Football League which began play in 1960. After the 1970 NFL/AFL merger they were placed in the AFC Western Divsion. Denver were triumphant in Superbowls XXXII, XXXIII and 50.

The Western Michigan Broncos, based in Kalamazoo, competed in the Mid-American Conference. They were conference champions in 1966 (shared), 1988 and 2016. They recorded their first-ever bowl win in 2015 with victory over Middle Tennessee in the Bahamas Bowl.

Answer: Baylor

The Chicago Bears are one of the oldest franchises in pro football. Founded as the Decatur Staleys in 1920, they moved to Chicago the following year and changed their nickname to the Bears in 1922. Winners of numerous NFL titles in the pre-Super Bowl era, they defeated the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XX.

The Baylor Bears, based in Waco, Texas, competed in the Big 12 Conference, having for many years been members of the now-defunct Southwest Conference. They were Big 12 champions in 2013 (outright) and 2014 (shared). In 2014 they achieved a then-highest number seven ranking in the season-ending AP poll.

Answer: Colorado State

The Los Angeles Rams have moved around a bit over the years. Founded in Cleveland in 1936, they relocated to LA in 1946. In 1995 they became the St Louis Rams before doing an about-turn and returning to Southern California in 2016. The St Louis version of the Rams were winners of Superbowl XXXIV.

The Colorado State Rams, based in Fort Collins, competed in the Mountain West Conference, having previously been part of the Western Athletic Conference. They were champions of the MWC in 1999 and 2000.

Answer: South Alabama

The Jacksonville Jaguars were an NFL expansion team who began play in 1995. In the 2017 season, they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the New England Patriots.

The South Alabama Jaguars, based in Mobile, played its first season of football in 2009. In 2012, they moved up to FCS level, joining the Sun Belt Conference. In 2014, they made their first postseason appearance, losing the Camellia Bowl to Bowling Green.

Answer: Wyoming

The Dallas Cowboys began play as an NFL expansion team in 1960. They were winners of Superbowls VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII and XXX.

The Wyoming Cowboys, based in Laramie, competed in the Mountain West Conference, having previously been part of the Western Athletic Conference. They were outright or co-champions of the WAC ten times between 1966 and 1993. Their bowl wins include a 28-20 victory over Florida State in the 1966 Sun Bowl.

Answer: Air Force

The Atlanta Falcons were an NFL expansion team who began play in 1966. They reached Superbowls XXXIII and LI, losing to the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots respectively.

The Air Force Falcons, based in Colorado Springs, began play in 1955 as an independent. They joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1979 and then the Mountain West Conference in 1999. They compete against Army and Navy for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

Answer: Boston College

The Philadelphia Eagles made their NFL debut in 1933. Three times champions in the pre-Super Bowl era, they finally landed the big prize in February, 2018, when they defeated the New England Patriots to win Superbowl LII.

The Boston College Eagles have been playing college football since 1893. They operated as an independent until 1991 when they joined the Big East Conference. In 2005, they moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Their postseason victories include a 19-13 win over Tennessee in the 1941 Sugar bowl.

Answer: Louisville

The Arizona Cardinals are the oldest continually operating franchise in pro football. Founded as the Morgan Athletic Club in 1898, they then
became the Racine Normals and Racine Cardinals before becoming the Chicago Cardinals in 1922. The moved to St Louis in 1960 and then to Phoenix in 1988. They won two NFL titles in the pre-Super Bowl era.

The Louisville Cardinals have had various conference affiliations over the years - they joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014. Their postseason victories include a 24-13 win over Wake Forest in the 2006 Orange Bowl and a 33-23 win against Florida in the 2012 Sugar Bowl.

Answer: Wagner

The Seattle Seahawks are an NFL expansion team who began play in 1976. In February, 2014, they defeated the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Wagner Seahawks, based in Staten Island, NY, have been playing college football since 1956. In 1987, they defeated Dayton to win the Division III Championship Game. They moved up to Division I-AA (FCS) in 1993 and joined the Northeast conference in 1996.

Answer: Columbia

The Detroit Lions began life in 1929 as the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. They relocated to the Motor City in 1934 and won four NFL titles between 1935 and 1957. In 2008, they created unwanted history when they became the first team to go 0-16 in an NFL regular season.

The Columbia Lions, based in New York, played their first football game in 1870. In 1934, they defeated Stanford 7-0 in the Rose Bowl. A member of the Ivy League, they won the conference title in 1961. They became notorious in the 1980s for their 44 game losing streak.