College Football Nicknames
"Lions, Tigers and Bears. Oh My!"
Since the dawning of advanced civilization, groups both large and small have
sought ways to identify themselves. While giving the individuals within the
group a sense of belonging, nicknames also create an image in the minds of
others.
This philosophy has been evident in war when fighting units have labeled
themselves with names such as Minutemen, Rebels and Fighting Tigers.
With football teams taking to the field of battle for a game it became natural for
universities to adopt warrior like nicknames. That’s why on a typical college
football Saturday invading forces with the nicknames of Trojans, Spartans and
Black Knights seek to conquer their opponents.
While all schools devise battle plans for victory, they don’t all embrace military
themed nicknames. That’s why major college football nicknames also feature
frogs, Hurricanes,Aggies and more. Below you'll find research on college
football nicknames and answers to many questions that surround them. You’ll
uncover such college nickname mysteries such as what an Ohio State
Buckeye is and why Tulsa is known as the Golden Hurricanes despite they’re
being in Oklahoma.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL NICKNAMES
BY CLASSIFICATIONS
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ACTS OF GOD
Iowa State Cyclones
Miami Hurricanes
Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
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AGRICULTURE
Nebraska Cornhuskers
New Mexico State Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies
Utah State Aggies
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APPAREL
Akron Zips
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BEARS
Baylor Bears
California Golden Bears
UCLA Bruins
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Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
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BIRDS
Ball State Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
Oregon Ducks
Boston College Eagles
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
North Texas Mean Green Eagles
Air Force Falcons
Bowling Green Falcons
South Carolina Gamecocks
Florida Atlantic Owls
Rice Owls
Temple Owls
Miami Ohio Redhawks
Louisiana Monroe Warhawks
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BUFFALO
Colorado Buffaloes
Marshall Thundering Herd
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BUGS
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
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DOGS
Fresno State Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Connecticut Huskies
Northern Illinois Huskies
Washington Huskies
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GOPHERS
Minnesota Golden Gophers
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HORSES
Boise State Broncos
SMU Mustangs
Western Michigan Broncos
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LIVESTOCK
Buffalo Bulls
South Florida Bulls
Texas Longhorns
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PIGS
Arkansas Razorbacks
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PREDATORY CATS
Cincinnati Bearcats
Ohio Bobcats
Brigham Young Cougars
Houston Cougars
Penn State Nittany Lions
Florida International Golden Panthers
Pittsburgh Panthers
Auburn Tigers
Clemson Tigers
LSU Tigers
Memphis Tigers
Missouri Tigers
Arizona Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats
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RAMS
Colorado State Rams
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REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS
Florida Gators
Maryland Terrapins
TCU Horned Frogs
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WOLVES
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Nevada Wolf Pack
New Mexico Lobos
North Carolina State Wolf Pack
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COLORS
North Texas Mean Green
Stanford Cardinal
Syracuse Orangemen
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PLANT LIFE
Ohio State Buckeyes
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FIRE AND LIGHT
Alabama-Birmingham Blazers
Kent Golden Flashes
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FROM THE WILD WEST
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboys
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Achievers
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
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Ancient Warriors
Troy Trojans
USC Trojans
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DEVILISH NAMES
Arizona State Sun Devils
Duke Blue Devils
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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ETHNIC HERITAGE
Louisiana-Lafayette Rajun’ Cajuns
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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INDIANS
Central Michigan Chippewas
Florida State Seminoles
Illinois Fighting Illini
San Diego State Aztecs
Utah Utes
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KNIGHTS
Army Black Knights
Central Florida Golden Knights
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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MECHANICAL WORKERS
Purdue Boilermakers
Texas El Paso Miners
West Virginia Mountaineers
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NOBILITY
Virginia Cavaliers
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RAIDERS
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
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REBELS
Nevada Las Vegas Rebels
Mississippi Rebels
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SAILING THE SEAS
East Carolina Pirates
Navy Midshipmen
Vanderbilt Commodores
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STATE NICKNAME MATCHES
Indiana Hoosiers
Iowa Hawkeyes
Kansas Jayhawks
Michigan Wolverines
Nebraska Cornhusker
North Carolina Tarheels
Ohio State Buckeyes
Oklahoma Sooners
Oregon State Beavers
Tennessee Volunteers
Wisconsin Badgers
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WATER
Alabama Crimson Tide
Tulane Green Wave
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UNDETERMINED
Virginia Tech Hokies
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