THE COLLEGE GAME · 2026
Answers about the college game, its schools and traditions.
Growing our coverage. Explore dated rosters, player details and schedules for 266 FBS and FCS programs. Researched player and coaching summaries, program history and FAQs are available for USC, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, Penn State, Washington, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern, Maryland, Rutgers, Alabama and Georgia. Division II, Division III and NAIA directories are not yet included. Please check linked sources for changes.
162 answers
College football basics
FBS means Football Bowl Subdivision; FCS means Football Championship Subdivision. Both are part of NCAA Division I. FBS teams participate in bowl games and the College Football Playoff, while FCS has a separate NCAA championship tournament.
College football basics
No. FCS is a subdivision of NCAA Division I, alongside FBS. It is not Division II. The distinction matters when comparing conferences, championship systems and school classifications.
USC · school & traditions
USC’s football program began in 1888. The university itself opened to students in 1880, so the school and the football program have different founding milestones.
USC · school & traditions
USC’s home football venue is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans have played there since the stadium opened in 1923.
USC · school & traditions
Traveler is USC’s horse mascot, accompanied by a rider dressed as a Trojan. The tradition began at a USC football game in 1961. The name belongs to the horse, rather than the rider.
USC · school & traditions
USC dates the nickname to 1912 and credits sportswriter Owen Bird’s comparison of its determined athletes with the ancient Trojans. The athletics department preserves the story in its official history and traditions collection.
USC · school & traditions
It is the rivalry trophy held for a year by the winner of the annual USC-UCLA football game. The bell weighs 295 pounds and originally came from a freight locomotive.
USC · school & traditions
Sculptor Roger Noble Burnham created the Trojan Shrine, commonly called Tommy Trojan, using several USC football players as models. The statue was unveiled in 1930.
USC · school & traditions
The Spirit of Troy is USC's Trojan Marching Band. Founded in 1880, it supports Trojan athletics and also performs in concerts, television and film.
USC · school & traditions
USC adopted cardinal and gold as its official colors in 1895, according to the university's historical timeline.
Michigan · school & traditions
The university was founded in Detroit in 1817 and moved to Ann Arbor in 1837. Those dates refer to the university’s history, rather than the beginning of its football program.
Michigan · school & traditions
Michigan adopted the winged helmet in 1938 under coach Fritz Crisler. Its original purpose included helping quarterbacks identify receivers downfield.
Michigan · school & traditions
Michigan Stadium opened on October 1, 1927, against Ohio Wesleyan. The official dedication took place later that month, on October 22, against Ohio State.
Michigan · school & traditions
Michigan football earned varsity status in 1879. Its first season included a victory over Racine College and a tie with the University of Toronto. This football milestone is separate from the university’s founding in 1817.
Michigan · school & traditions
Michigan’s fight song is The Victors. Music student Louis Elbel wrote it in 1898 after Michigan defeated Chicago to claim its first Western Conference football championship.
Michigan · school & traditions
Michigan’s colors trace to a student committee’s 1867 recommendation of azure blue and maize as the university’s emblematic colors. The university’s Heritage Project preserves the account of that choice.
Michigan · school & traditions
The Little Brown Jug is the football rivalry trophy contested by Michigan and Minnesota. Its story began with a water jug left behind after the teams’ 1903 game; the trophy series began in 1909.
Michigan · school & traditions
Yes. Michigan completed the 2023 season with a 15–0 record and the College Football Playoff national championship. That was its first national title since 1997.
Ohio State · school & traditions
Ohio State plays its home football games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Often called the Horseshoe or the Shoe, the stadium opened in 1922 with a game against Ohio Wesleyan.
Ohio State · school & traditions
Ohio State's official football season archive starts in 1890. The first team was coached by Alexander Lilley and finished 1-3. The archive links later seasons with records, coaches and available historical materials.
Ohio State · school & traditions
Ohio State's colors are scarlet and gray. Students chose them in 1878 for ribbons tied around the first graduates' diplomas, after deciding against orange and black because Princeton already used that combination.
Ohio State · school & traditions
Brutus Buckeye is Ohio State's athletics mascot. The first Brutus appeared in 1965 as a papier-mache figure, and the name was chosen in a contest. The mascot's appearance evolved through later redesigns.
Ohio State · school & traditions
The gold pants are miniature football-pants charms given to Ohio State players and coaches after victories over Michigan. The tradition began in 1934 under coach Francis Schmidt and remains associated with that rivalry.
Ohio State · school & traditions
Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy in 1974 and 1975. He was a three-time first-team All-American at Ohio State, and the university retired his No. 45 in 1999.
Ohio State · school & traditions
Ryan Day is listed as Ohio State's head coach in the official 2026 coaching directory checked for this content batch. He became head coach in 2019 and led the Buckeyes to the national championship for the 2024 season.
Ohio State · school & traditions
The roster and schedule pages identify their own stored snapshot dates. This October 13, 2026 content expansion adds researched biographies and an official coaching snapshot; it does not refresh the earlier roster or schedule datasets or provide a continuous live feed. Use the linked official Ohio State website for subsequent changes.
Oregon · school & traditions
The University of Oregon opened its doors in 1876 in Eugene. Its first campus building was University Hall.
Oregon · school & traditions
Oregon plays at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. The stadium opened in 1967 and is named in honor of Thomas J. Autzen.
Oregon · school & traditions
Oregon's mascot is The Duck. Its history grew out of the earlier Webfoots identity and a long connection with Disney's Donald Duck character.
Oregon · school & traditions
Oregon won the conference championship in its first Big Ten season in 2024, beating Penn State 45–37 in the championship game.
Oregon · school & traditions
Quarterback Marcus Mariota became Oregon's first Heisman Trophy winner for the 2014 season.
Oregon · school & traditions
The university's primary brand colors are green and yellow, identified in its official guidelines as UO Green and UO Yellow.
Oregon · school & traditions
Oregon Athletics' design oral history describes an outer shape inspired by Autzen Stadium and an inner shape inspired by the track at Hayward Field.
Oregon · school & traditions
Roster and schedule pages identify their source snapshot dates. Researched summaries show a separate checked date and official source links. These are dated references; consult Oregon Athletics to confirm changes, availability and the latest information.
UCLA · school & traditions
UCLA was founded in 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California. Its Westwood campus opened in 1929.
UCLA · school & traditions
UCLA plays its home football games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The stadium became the Bruins' home in 1982.
UCLA · school & traditions
Gary Beban won the 1967 Heisman Trophy as a senior at UCLA. He had also helped the Bruins beat Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl.
UCLA · school & traditions
UCLA officially became a Big Ten member on August 2, 2024, alongside fellow new members USC, Oregon and Washington.
UCLA · school & traditions
UCLA's bear mascots are Joe and Josie Bruin. Their costumed appearances continue the school's long association with bear mascots.
UCLA · school & traditions
The Victory Bell is the rivalry trophy awarded to the winner of the annual UCLA–USC football game under an agreement dating to 1942.
UCLA · school & traditions
UCLA's official 2026 football directory lists Bob Chesney as head coach. His biography dates his appointment to December 2025. Check UCLA Athletics for subsequent staff changes.
UCLA · school & traditions
Roster and schedule pages retain their source snapshot dates. Editorial summaries have a separate checked date and official source links. These are dated references; confirm changes and current details with UCLA Athletics.
Penn State · school & traditions
Penn State was chartered in 1855 as a college focused on agricultural science.
Penn State · school & traditions
Penn State plays at Beaver Stadium on its University Park campus. The stadium opened at its current location in 1960.
Penn State · school & traditions
Running back John Cappelletti won the Heisman Trophy for the 1973 season.
Penn State · school & traditions
Penn State was admitted to the conference in 1990 and began Big Ten football competition in 1993. Membership and the start of football play were separate milestones.
Penn State · school & traditions
Penn State's mascot represents a mountain lion and takes its name from nearby Mount Nittany.
Penn State · school & traditions
Penn State's familiar school colors are blue and white. Its original color combination was pink and black.
Penn State · school & traditions
The official 2026 football directory lists Matt Campbell as head coach. His biography dates his appointment to December 2025; confirm subsequent staff changes with Penn State Athletics.
Penn State · school & traditions
Roster and schedule pages retain their source snapshot dates. Editorial summaries show a separate checked date and official links. These are dated references; confirm changes and current details with Penn State Athletics.
Washington · school & traditions
The football program represents the University of Washington in Seattle. UW's Seattle campus account dates the university's founding to 1861.
Washington · school & traditions
Washington plays at Husky Stadium, beside Union Bay on Lake Washington. The official facilities page supplies venue and visitor links.
Washington · school & traditions
UW officially claims 1960 and 1991. Other selectors recognized Washington in additional seasons, but the university distinguishes those from its claimed titles.
Washington · school & traditions
UW became a Big Ten member on August 2, 2024, joining the conference with three other West Coast schools.
Washington · school & traditions
Dubs is UW's live mascot, an Alaskan malamute. The university's profile describes his appearances at football games and campus events.
Washington · school & traditions
UW student handlers accompany Dubs, advocate for his welfare during appearances and explain the live mascot program to visitors.
Washington · school & traditions
UW highlights its fans' Halloween 1981 performance against Stanford as a milestone in popularizing the Wave. It does not claim an uncontested invention.
Washington · school & traditions
Some fans arrive by boat for football gatherings on Lake Washington. UW includes sailgating among the traditions associated with Husky Stadium.
Nebraska · school & traditions
The Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a public land-grant university chartered in 1869.
Nebraska · school & traditions
Nebraska plays at Memorial Stadium. The official facilities page provides information about the venue and related football facilities.
Nebraska · school & traditions
Nebraska lists five national championship seasons: 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995 and 1997.
Nebraska · school & traditions
The Tunnel Walk is the team's filmed pregame journey from the locker room toward the field, shared on stadium video screens.
Nebraska · school & traditions
Nebraska's official tradition account identifies Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project as the music associated with the team's entrance.
Nebraska · school & traditions
The university calls its marching band the Pride of All Nebraska. Its football halftime tradition dates to November 1892.
Nebraska · school & traditions
Nebraska's official colors are scarlet and cream. The university dates their adoption to 1892.
Nebraska · school & traditions
The university's history account identifies Architecture Hall, originally built as the campus library in 1895, as its oldest surviving building.
Iowa · school & traditions
The University of Iowa is in Iowa City, beside the Iowa River.
Iowa · school & traditions
Iowa plays at Kinnick Stadium, the venue opened in 1929.
Iowa · school & traditions
The stadium honors Nile Kinnick, Iowa's 1939 Heisman Trophy winner.
Iowa · school & traditions
The university renamed the stadium in 1972.
Iowa · school & traditions
Stadium participants exchange waves with patients and families at the neighboring UI Stead Family Children's Hospital.
Iowa · school & traditions
The tradition began in 2017, according to Iowa Athletics.
Iowa · school & traditions
Iowa introduced Kid Captain participation in choosing the Wave's accompanying music in 2022.
Iowa · school & traditions
Iowa Athletics publishes the official roster and player biographies. Use those sources to confirm changes to dated roster information.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
The Badgers represent the University of Wisconsin-Madison, founded in 1848.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
Wisconsin plays at Camp Randall Stadium on the UW campus.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
The camp honors Alexander W. Randall, Wisconsin's first wartime governor.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
Fans jump along to House of Pain's song during the stadium break between the third and fourth quarters.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
Wisconsin dates the tradition's start to the 1998 home game against Purdue.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
It is the principle that university education should improve lives beyond the classroom.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
Yes. UW-Madison is a public land-grant research university.
Wisconsin · school & traditions
Wisconsin Athletics maintains a stadium information page with venue details and related facilities links.
Michigan State · school & traditions
Michigan State was established in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan.
Michigan State · school & traditions
Its educational model helped shape the movement supported by the Morrill Act, connecting practical teaching, research and public service.
Michigan State · school & traditions
The Spartans play at Spartan Stadium. The present stadium site became their football home in 1923.
Michigan State · school & traditions
They played at Old College Field before moving to the present Spartan Stadium site for the 1923 season.
Michigan State · school & traditions
It is the tradition of guarding the Sparty statue before the Michigan game, begun by marching band members after rivalry-week vandalism.
Michigan State · school & traditions
Spartan Marching Band members lead the watch, with students and alumni also joining in.
Michigan State · school & traditions
The official directory checked October 16, 2026, lists Pat Fitzgerald. Coaching information is dated; consult the linked source for changes.
Michigan State · school & traditions
Use Michigan State Athletics' official football roster. Our saved roster and researched background have separate dates and may differ from later listings.
Minnesota · school & traditions
The university was chartered in 1851 by Minnesota's territorial government, before statehood in 1858.
Minnesota · school & traditions
The Golden Gophers play at Huntington Bank Stadium on the Minneapolis campus. The stadium opened for football in 2009.
Minnesota · school & traditions
The new campus stadium was completed in 2009, with its first kickoff on September 12 that year.
Minnesota · school & traditions
Golden Gopher football belongs to the Twin Cities campus, within a university system that also includes four other Minnesota campuses.
Minnesota · school & traditions
The university's official history timeline covers its territorial founding, campus development, notable alumni and research milestones.
Minnesota · school & traditions
The official staff directory checked October 16, 2026, lists P.J. Fleck. Check the linked source for changes after that date.
Minnesota · school & traditions
Use Minnesota Athletics' official football roster. Our saved snapshot may retain players whose membership or details changed later.
Minnesota · school & traditions
Yes. Minnesota's facilities page places Huntington Bank Stadium near the former Memorial Stadium site on the northeast Minneapolis campus.
Illinois · school & traditions
The university was established in 1867 as Illinois Industrial University.
Illinois · school & traditions
Illinois plays at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign. The stadium opened in 1923.
Illinois · school & traditions
Its columns honor Illinois men and women who died serving during World War I.
Illinois · school & traditions
At the stadium's dedication, Red Grange accounted for six touchdowns against Michigan.
Illinois · school & traditions
It honored the stadium's dedication and Red Grange's performance, using historic displays and uniforms inspired by earlier Illinois teams.
Illinois · school & traditions
Yes. Illinois's official history identifies it as a charter member in 1896.
Illinois · school & traditions
The official staff source checked October 16, 2026, lists Bret Bielema. Consult it for later changes.
Illinois · school & traditions
Use Illinois Athletics' official football roster. Our saved snapshot and researched background have separate dates and may differ from later listings.
Indiana · school & traditions
Indiana's legislature established the state seminary in 1820; the institution later became Indiana University.
Indiana · school & traditions
IU Bloomington's official history timeline dates the founding of the men's football team to 1886.
Indiana · school & traditions
The Hoosiers play at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, identified by the official facilities page as Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
Indiana · school & traditions
It is the limestone boulder installed during Terry Hoeppner's coaching tenure and renamed in his memory in 2010.
Indiana · school & traditions
The official source places it outside Memorial Stadium's east entrance after its relocation from the north end zone.
Indiana · school & traditions
Players and coaches arrive amid fan support, with a rally involving the Marching Hundred, cheerleaders and RedSteppers.
Indiana · school & traditions
The official directory checked October 16, 2026, lists Curt Cignetti. Consult the source for later changes.
Indiana · school & traditions
Use Indiana Athletics' official football roster. Our dated snapshot may retain information that differs from later official listings.
Purdue · school & traditions
Use Purdue Athletics for current official football information. This College system retains dated sources, and saved roster membership may differ from the current official listing.
Purdue · school & traditions
The official staff snapshot collected October 16, 2026 lists Barry Odom as head coach. Consult Purdue Athletics for subsequent staffing changes.
Purdue · school & traditions
Profiles combine saved roster identification with dated official-source summaries. Brief or roster-only sources are labeled; names and permanent IDs are preserved rather than automatically merged.
Purdue · school & traditions
Saved roster snapshots preserve earlier entries. D'Mon Marable's retained biography is from 2025 and does not establish current membership; the profile identifies this limitation.
Purdue · school & traditions
Purdue Athletics identifies the Boilermaker Special locomotive replica as the official mascot. Purdue Pete is a separate, longstanding spirit character.
Purdue · school & traditions
Purdue credits Arnette Tiller with introducing the phrase in 1997. Its wording also echoes the language of steam-powered locomotives.
Purdue · school & traditions
The stadium is named for alumni David Ross and George Ade, principal benefactors who provided the land for its construction.
Purdue · school & traditions
This collection emphasizes dated player and coach background, school history, traditions and official links. Use official Purdue sources for current availability and game information.
Northwestern · school & traditions
Use Northwestern Athletics for current official information. Saved College roster and staff snapshots are dated and may differ from today's official listings.
Northwestern · school & traditions
The official staff snapshot collected October 16, 2026 lists David Braun as head coach. His permanent appointment was announced in November 2023; check official sources for later changes.
Northwestern · school & traditions
Profiles include saved roster identification and dated official-source summaries. Limited biographies and roster-only entries are labeled, and stored names and permanent IDs are retained.
Northwestern · school & traditions
Earlier saved roster entries remain available. Cole Shivers has a retained 2025 official biography; that historical source does not establish membership on the current roster.
Northwestern · school & traditions
The rivalry awards the Land of Lincoln Trophy, introduced in 2009 and modeled after Abraham Lincoln's hat.
Northwestern · school & traditions
Northwestern was one of the seven universities involved in the conference's founding organization in 1896. The group later became known as the Big Ten.
Northwestern · school & traditions
The history entry describes the original stadium built in 1926. It does not claim current capacity, construction status or game-day access; verify those details with Northwestern Athletics.
Northwestern · school & traditions
This collection focuses on dated player and coach background, program history, school facts and official links. Consult Northwestern Athletics for current availability and game information.
Maryland · school & traditions
Use Maryland Athletics for current official information. The roster, staff and schedule snapshots in this College system are dated and may differ from today's official listings.
Maryland · school & traditions
The official staff listing collected October 16, 2026 names Michael Locksley as head coach. His biography records his return to lead Maryland in December 2018.
Maryland · school & traditions
Profiles combine saved roster identification with dated official-source summaries. Limited source information is labeled, and saved names and permanent IDs are preserved.
Maryland · school & traditions
Maryland's official roster page contained the fuller football staff listing when collected. The separate coaches page displayed only two coaches, so the roster page supports the dated staff snapshot.
Maryland · school & traditions
Testudo is Maryland's terrapin mascot. The diamondback terrapin was recommended as the school mascot in 1932, and a bronze statue became the Class of 1933's gift.
Maryland · school & traditions
No. Maryland's official mascot history describes multiple possible explanations rather than confirming one origin.
Maryland · school & traditions
It describes Maryland's unbeaten regular season, national poll championship and shared ACC title in 1953. Historical poll selection and bowl timing should be read in their period context.
Maryland · school & traditions
This collection emphasizes dated player and coach background, history, traditions and official links. Consult Maryland Athletics for current availability and game information.
Rutgers · school & traditions
Use Rutgers Athletics for current official information. Saved College roster, staff and schedule snapshots are dated and may differ from today's official listings.
Rutgers · school & traditions
The official listing collected October 16, 2026 names Greg Schiano as head coach. His biography describes the 2001-11 tenure and his return in 2020.
Rutgers · school & traditions
Profiles combine saved roster identification with dated official-source summaries. Limited sources are labeled, and original names and permanent IDs remain intact rather than being automatically merged or corrected.
Rutgers · school & traditions
Rutgers hosted Princeton in the 1869 contest recognized as the first intercollegiate football game.
Rutgers · school & traditions
Yes. The Scarlet Knights finished 11-0 under Frank Burns. The official anniversary history also highlights that team's nationally prominent defense.
Rutgers · school & traditions
Rutgers first appeared in a bowl in the 1978 Garden State Bowl against Arizona State at Giants Stadium.
Rutgers · school & traditions
Official directory roles and individual career narratives can be updated at different times. These summaries distinguish the dated listing from earlier career background and avoid treating old season labels as current.
Rutgers · school & traditions
This collection focuses on dated player and coach background, program history, traditions and official links. Consult Rutgers Athletics for current availability and game information.
Alabama · school & traditions
Alabama Athletics provides official roster, staff and schedule information. Compare its current listings with the dated snapshots retained here.
Alabama · school & traditions
The official staff listing collected October 17, 2026 identifies Kalen DeBoer as head coach.
Alabama · school & traditions
Summaries emphasize official-source background and completed seasons. Profiles with limited background are labeled, and stored names and permanent IDs remain intact.
Alabama · school & traditions
His cited official page belongs to Alabama's 2025-26 signing class. It supports recruiting background and does not establish current roster membership.
Alabama · school & traditions
Alabama links the elephant association to reporting about its 1930 team. Big Al is the familiar costumed expression of that identity.
Alabama · school & traditions
UA describes the muddy 1907 Auburn game explanation as an origin story. This collection preserves that qualification.
Alabama · school & traditions
It is Alabama's football venue in Tuscaloosa. The stadium opened in 1929; its playing field received the Saban name in 2024.
Alabama · school & traditions
This collection emphasizes background, history and official links. Check Alabama Athletics for current availability and game information.
Georgia · school & traditions
Georgia Athletics provides official roster, staff and schedule information. The snapshots here carry collection dates and may differ from current listings.
Georgia · school & traditions
The official staff directory collected October 17, 2026 lists Kirby Smart as head coach.
Georgia · school & traditions
Profiles retain saved roster identities and summarize official-source background. Limited biographies are identified, and name variations do not trigger automatic identity merges.
Georgia · school & traditions
The directory is a snapshot. Some biographies describe earlier jobs, so summaries distinguish the collected directory role from historical narrative.
Georgia · school & traditions
Uga is Georgia's live bulldog mascot tradition, maintained by the Seiler family since 1956. Individual dogs have their own names within the line.
Georgia · school & traditions
Georgia's traditions account describes occasional newspaper use during the 1910s and more consistent adoption around 1920.
Georgia · school & traditions
It marks the university's state charter. UGA distinguishes that legal founding from the campus establishment in 1801.
Georgia · school & traditions
The focus is dated background, coaches, history and official links. Consult Georgia Athletics for current availability and game information.
These sourced summaries are prepared with AI assistance and checked against the linked material. They are not independently audited or presented as human-reviewed. Please verify details with the original sources; checked dates are not promises of live updates.