Could a college team beat an NFL team?

[Gator2222]

I have always been firmly in the no camp.

However, it turns out that it's actually been done before. Well, sort of.

In 1934 Arch Ward the sports editor at the Chicago Tribune set up a charity event called the College All Star game. The game featured a team made up of the best college seniors going head to head against the pro (NFL or AFL) champions. The game became an annual event and was played every year from 1934 to 1976 with the sole exception of the 1974 season when NFL players went on strike.

In the inaugural game the all stars played the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field before a crowd of 79,432 people. The game ended in a scoreless tie. The following year the Bears won 5-0. The first all star victory came in 1937 when they beat Curly Lambeau's Green Bay Packers. In 1938 the all stars won again beating the Washington Redskins. The last all star win came in 1963 when the all stars beat Vince Lombardi's Packers 20-17.

As the salary of NFL players started rising the NFL owners became more reluctant to play the game. Concerns about injuries to existing NFL players and draftees on the all star squad eventually led to the demise of the college versus NFL match up.

A college all star team has played the pro championship team a total of 42 times. The pros won 31, the all stars won 9 and there were 2 ties.

There is no way a college all star team could compete against the Super Bowl champs in modern times. However, a college all star team coached by Saban and given a month of practice playing against the NFL's worst team? It would be interesting to watch.

 

[ufgator812]

No

 

[williston_gator]

Not even close.

 

[KronoGator]

Browns / Alabama might be close for a half but it would end in a blow out for the NFL team.

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

A college team may have a dozen or so NFL roster guys on their team at any given time, sometimes maybe a little more, but most times far less. An NFL team has 54 NFL roster guys on their team at all times. So no. Not a chance. Bama would get killed by the Browns. A college all star team would get killed by the Browns.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

2222 that was a long time ago, before steroids, year round training and incredible diets and supplements. Many All Pros from that era wouldnt even play today. Randy White, All Pro DT on the Cowboys teams of the 70s weighed like 250 lbs. That is LB siize today. Modern NFL players are huge and fast.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

However, a college all star team coached by Saban and given a month of practice playing against the NFL's worst team? It would be interesting to watch.

Not really if the pros were taking the game seriously. But why would you want to handicap the college all star team by having them coached by a mediocre coach?

 

[MJMGator]

The Saban worship is strong in this one.

 

[GatorBart]

[GIPHY="nope"]https://media0.giphy.com/media/3o6Ztmpp9UV18oN8Oc/giphy.gif[/GIPHY]

 

[Gator2222]

2222 that was a long time ago, before steroids, year round training and incredible diets and supplements. Many All Pros from that era wouldnt even play today. Randy White, All Pro DT on the Cowboys teams of the 70s weighed like 250 lbs. That is LB siize today. Modern NFL players are huge and fast.

I totally agree, but it would be fun to see. At least you actually read the post before replying. Half the people that have responded obviously didn't read it. Many of them think I am talking about picking one college team when the post clearly talks about a college all star team.

 

[GatorJ]

I don't think it's possible today. The main reason is because of practice repetition. In all the main sports back then professional players had another primary job. They probably didn't practice much more than a college team.

Talent wise the All Star team will probably be on par with a NFL team. Probably the All-Stars will be first and second rounders anyway which would virtually make them starters on any team they get drafted to. Also they would have very limited time to prepare and there is just no way they could not compete with an NFL team that has been practicing and playing together for years.

50 to 60 years ago these guys had other jobs and did the NFL as a side gig. Now it's all they live and breathe. So no. I don't think the outcome would be the same. They would not be able to beat an NFL team.

 

[gingerlover]

not a chance. Especially if they went with a NFL roster size. Half the team would be beat to crap at halftime. Different training, everyone is NFL guy instead of a few ,etc.

 

[Gator Fever]

The NFL teams werent taking those games serious.

Cleveland would beat Bama etc. if the game meant something.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

Taken from Wikipedia. Game was played at Soldier's Field, Chicago.

Date played Winning team Losing team Attendance

August 31, 1934 College All-Stars 0 Chicago Bears 0 79,432
August 29, 1935 Chicago Bears 5 College All-Stars 0 77,450
September 2, 1936 College All-Stars 7 Detroit Lions 7 76,000
September 1, 1937 College All-Stars[2] 6 Green Bay Packers 0 84,560
August 31, 1938 College All-Stars[3] 28 Washington Redskins 16 74,250
August 30, 1939 New York Giants 9 College All-Stars 0 81,456
August 29, 1940 Green Bay Packers 45 College All-Stars 28 84,567
August 28, 1941 Chicago Bears 37 College All-Stars 13 98,203
August 28, 1942 Chicago Bears 21 College All-Stars 0 101,103
August 28, 1943 College All-Stars 27 Washington Redskins 7 48,437
August 30, 1944 Chicago Bears 24 College All-Stars 21 49,246
August 30, 1945 Green Bay Packers 19 College All-Stars 7 92,753
August 23, 1946 College All-Stars 16 Los Angeles Rams 0 97,380
August 23, 1947 College All-Stars 16 Chicago Bears 0 105,840
August 22, 1948 Chicago Cardinals 28 College All-Stars 0 101,220
August 22, 1949 Philadelphia Eagles 38 College All-Stars 0 93,780
August 11, 1950 College All-Stars[4] 17 Philadelphia Eagles 7 88,885
August 17, 1951 Cleveland Browns 33 College All-Stars 0 92,180
August 15, 1952 Los Angeles Rams 10 College All-Stars 7 88,316
August 14, 1953 Detroit Lions 24 College All-Stars 10 93,818
August 13, 1954 Detroit Lions 31 College All-Stars 6 93,470
August 12, 1955 College All-Stars[5] 30 Cleveland Browns 27 75,000
August 10, 1956 Cleveland Browns 26 College All-Stars 0 75,000
August 9, 1957 New York Giants 22 College All-Stars 12 75,000
August 15, 1958 College All-Stars[6] 35 Detroit Lions 19 70,000
August 14, 1959 Baltimore Colts 29 College All-Stars 0 70,000
August 12, 1960 Baltimore Colts 32 College All-Stars 7 70,000
August 4, 1961 Philadelphia Eagles 28 College All-Stars 14 66,000
August 3, 1962 Green Bay Packers 42 College All-Stars 20 65,000
August 2, 1963 College All-Stars[7] 20 Green Bay Packers 17 65,000
August 7, 1964 Chicago Bears 28 College All-Stars 17 65,000
August 6, 1965 Cleveland Browns 24 College All-Stars 16 68,000
August 5, 1966 Green Bay Packers 38 College All-Stars 0 72,000
August 4, 1967 Green Bay Packers 27 College All-Stars 0 70,934
August 2, 1968 Green Bay Packers 34 College All-Stars 17 69,917
August 1, 1969 New York Jets 26 College All-Stars 24 74,208
July 31, 1970 Kansas City Chiefs 24 College All-Stars 3 69,940
July 30, 1971 Baltimore Colts 24 College All-Stars 17 52,289
July 28, 1972 Dallas Cowboys 20 College All-Stars 7 54,162
July 27, 1973 Miami Dolphins 14 College All-Stars 3 54,103
July 26, 1974 Canceled due to 1974 NFL strike
Game was originally scheduled between the Miami Dolphins and College All-Stars
August 1, 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers 21 College All-Stars 14 54,562
July 23, 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers 24 College All-Stars 0 52,000

 

[t-gator]

Alabama would give the browns or the jags all they want.

 

[NVGator]

[GIPHY="no way"]https://media2.giphy.com/media/l0MYBrEi8DdcmD5TO/giphy.gif[/GIPHY]

 

[OllieGator]

Alabama would give the browns or the jags all they want.

No way in hades

 

[Jbossgator8]

Browns 38 Bama 20

 

[AlexDaGator]

NFL teams ARE college all-star teams...only with a lot more experience.

Cleveland or Jacksonville would destroy any college team.

Alex.

 

[CGgater]

So, a college all star team would suggest a ton of 1st and 2nd round talent. That is the closest to fielding a group of 20 year old kids capable of beating seasoned NFL veterans.

The question is "could a college team..." no. Even bamuh has players who lack the talent to play in the NFL.