The Ultimate College Football Quiz Trivia

Penn State is the correct answer because Happy Valley is a nickname for State College, Pennsylvania, where Penn State University is located. The term "Happy Valley" is often used to refer to the school and its surrounding area, making it clear that Penn State is the college team that plays in Happy Valley.

The correct answer is Vandals. The University of Idaho's sports teams are known as the Vandals. The mascot represents the university's fierce and competitive spirit. The choice of the Vandals as the mascot may also be influenced by the historical connection to the Vandals, a Germanic tribe known for their military prowess and conquests in ancient times.

Troy Aikman, before becoming a Hall of Fame quarterback in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, played his college football at UCLA. He transferred there from Oklahoma and became the Bruins' starting quarterback. During his time at UCLA, Aikman was known for his precise passing and strong leadership qualities.

Joe Namath played college football for the University of Alabama. During his time at Alabama, Joe Namath was under the coaching of the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1962 to 1964. Namath helped lead the Crimson Tide to a national championship in 1964, although he was sidelined due to a knee injury during the Orange Bowl, where Alabama claimed the title.

Dick Butkus is one of the most fearsome and respected linebackers in the history of football, both at the collegiate and professional levels. During his time at the University of Illinois, Butkus became a standout on their football team, earning a reputation as a relentless and powerful linebacker. 

TCU has historically been affiliated with several conferences but was never a part of the Southeastern Conference. It was a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) for most of the 20th century. Following the dissolution of the SWC in 1996, TCU had stints in the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA, and the Mountain West Conference. TCU joined the Big 12 Conference in 2012, where it competes presently.

Deion Sanders won the Jim Thorpe award in college. The Jim Thorpe award is given annually to the best defensive back in college football. It is considered a prestigious award and recognizes outstanding performance and skill in the position. Deion Sanders was known for his exceptional talent and athleticism as a defensive back, making him a deserving recipient of the Jim Thorpe award.

Gale Sayers played college football at the University of Kansas. During his time at Kansas, Gale Sayers established himself as one of the most electrifying running backs in college football history. Known as the "Kansas Comet," Sayers was famous for his incredible speed, agility, and ability to change games with his elusiveness and playmaking skills. At Kansas, he earned All-America honors twice and set several school records, some of which still stand today.

The now-extinct Aviation Bowl was played in Dayton, Ohio. The Aviation Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game held only once on December 9, 1961. The game took place at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, a city known for its historical significance in the field of aviation, most notably as the home of the Wright brothers, pioneers of powered flight. This connection to aviation history was the inspiration for the name of the bowl.

The Liberty Bowl, officially known as the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is located in Memphis, Tennessee. This annual college football bowl game was first played in 1959 and has been held in Memphis since 1965. Before moving to Memphis, the game was played in Philadelphia at Municipal Stadium. 

The first Rose Bowl Game, known at the time as the "Tournament East-West football game," was played on January 1, 1902. The University of Michigan Wolverines faced the Stanford University Cardinals in this inaugural bowl game. Michigan dominated Stanford, winning the game by a decisive score of 49-0, which prompted Stanford to concede defeat in the third quarter.

The "Snow Bowl" in the context of NCAA Football referring to an annual specific event rather than historical single games is actually associated with Fargo, ND. This refers to the NCAA Division I Football Championship games often played at North Dakota State University's Fargodome. The games here, especially during the playoffs, have earned this nickname due to Fargo's notoriously harsh and snowy winter weather, which often impacts the games significantly.

Blinn (Texas) is the correct answer because they were the first junior college to win consecutive National Football Championships. This means they won the championship in two consecutive years, which is a significant accomplishment. The other options, Snow (California), Dupage (Illinois), and Coffeyville (Kansas), did not achieve this feat.

DePauw University's long-time football rival is Wabash College. This rivalry is one of the oldest college football rivalries in the United States and is highlighted annually in the Monon Bell Classic. The Monon Bell Classic started in 1890 and features DePauw and Wabash battling for possession of the Monon Bell, a 300-pound locomotive bell that became the trophy in 1932.

During the 1990s, following the introduction of the SEC Championship Game in 1992, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) clinched three national championships in college football. The University of Alabama secured the first of these titles in 1992 under Coach Gene Stallings, after defeating Miami in the Sugar Bowl. The University of Florida followed in 1996 with a resounding victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl under Coach Steve Spurrier, capturing their first national championship. The University of Tennessee rounded out the decade's SEC successes by winning the 1998 national championship, defeating Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl under Coach Phillip Fulmer, completing a perfect season.

Before Peyton Manning took over as the main quarterback for the University of Tennessee, Todd Helton was the starter. Helton is perhaps better known for his Major League Baseball career, but in 1994, he started as quarterback for the Vols until an injury sidelined him. This injury led to Peyton Manning taking over as the quarterback during his freshman year. Manning then held the position from 1994 through 1997.

The coach who won the first "Big 12" Championship was John Mackovic, leading the Texas Longhorns. In 1996, the inaugural Big 12 Championship game took place, and John Mackovic's Texas Longhorns faced off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who were heavily favored and ranked third in the nation at the time. The game was held at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. Texas secured a surprising and memorable victory over Nebraska with a final score of 37-27.

Phil Simms played for Morehead State from 1974 to 1977. During his time at Morehead State, he set several school records and showed his potential as a strong and accurate passer. Although Morehead State was not a high-profile school in the realm of college football, Simms' skills caught the attention of NFL scouts, which led to his selection as the seventh overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

Troy Aikman, in his sophomore year and first full season as a collegiate starter at Oklahoma, was leading the Sooners under Coach Barry Switzer. His season was off to a strong start with victories including a notable win over Texas in the Red River Shootout. However, his promising campaign was abruptly halted during a game against the Miami Hurricanes. Aikman suffered a broken ankle in this game, which not only sidelined him for the remainder of the season but also significantly altered the course of his college career.

Christian Okoye played for the Azusa Pacific Cougars from 1982 to 1986. Initially, he went to Azusa Pacific on a track and field scholarship but later turned to football where he excelled as a running back. His powerful running style and exceptional athleticism made him a dominant force on the field.

Wisconsin is the correct answer because they were the Big 10 team that went to the Rose Bowl in the 1993-94 season. The Rose Bowl is traditionally played between the champions of the Big 10 Conference and the Pac-12 Conference, and in this particular season, Wisconsin represented the Big 10.

Former NFL quarterback Jeff George played his college football primarily at the University of Illinois. Jeff George began his collegiate career at Purdue University but transferred after his freshman year due to a coaching change and a desire for a system more suited to his style of play as a pocket passer. After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, he played for the University of Illinois.

The 1983 Heisman Trophy was won by Mike Rozier, a running back from the University of Nebraska. During the 1983 season, Mike Rozier had an outstanding year. He rushed for 2,148 yards and scored 29 touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a near-perfect season, which culminated in a second-place finish for the team after a loss in the Orange Bowl.

In 1984, Jim Wacker, who was the head coach at TCU (Texas Christian University), was also recognized as the college football Coach of the Year. This honor was particularly notable considering the transformation he achieved with the TCU football program. Jim Wacker's tenure at TCU was marked by a significant turnaround in the football team’s performance. In 1984, he led the TCU Horned Frogs to a dramatic improvement, which included a stunning victory over #12 Oklahoma.

Jamal Anderson played for the University of Utah Utes from 1992 to 1993. During his time at Utah, he was used primarily as a running back and distinguished himself with his powerful running style and ability to break tackles, which would later become his trademark in the NFL, notably with the Atlanta Falcons.

Upon transferring to the University of Miami after his initial time at Penn State, Lex Luger played under Lou Saban. Lou Saban was the head coach at the University of Miami during the late 1970s, including the 1977 season when Luger sat out as a redshirt. Saban, a well-known figure in football with extensive coaching experience, including stints in the NFL, was known for his defensive coaching strategies, which would have influenced Luger's development as a defensive lineman.

Auburn University finished the 1993 season with a perfect record of 11-0 under head coach Terry Bowden. However, despite their undefeated record, Auburn was not eligible to play in a bowl game or for the national championship due to NCAA probation. This probation stemmed from violations that occurred before Bowden's tenure as head coach.