College Football Teams that Remind Us of NFL Franchises

Have you ever noticed how much the Pittsburgh Steelers look like the Iowa Hawkeyes? On numerous occasions, I get mixed up between the Jayhawks and the Giants.

What about when two teams from nearby locations played great a season ago, but are in the tank the next year?

Whether it's slight, or significant, there's always a College Football team out there that reminds us of a team in the NFL.

Feel free to give a list of your own, or leave any questions, or comments you may have.

Now without further ado, here are the College Football Teams that remind us of the NFL.

The Extra Reminders

Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama has won the most National Championships in College Football. Coincidentally, Pittsburgh has won the most Super Bowls in the NFL. Both teams are legendary, and have always been known to have great defenses.

Cleveland Browns: Syracuse Orange

Syracuse has only won a few games this past decade, just like Cleveland. Coincidentally, both teams' mascots are named after colors.

From the expectations to the uniforms, I'll always be reminded of the Cleveland Browns whenever I see that bright Orange of Syracuse being picked on.

San Diego Chargers: Mississippi Rebels

At first glance, these teams are nothing alike. But both teams were extremely over-rated to start the season. Nobody thought Denver had a chance in the AFC West, and Ole Miss started the season at No. 8 in the AP Poll.

New England Patriots (5-2) - Florida Gators

Aside from the throw-back uniforms, the Pats and Gators were the favorite to start the season. There’s no one quite like Tom Brady, or Tim Tebow. They are the best of the best.

Jake Locker will be drafted ahead of Tim Tebow, but don't forget—Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round nearly a decade ago.

The Pats and Gators might come up just short this season, but both teams will always have supremacy.

N.Y. Jets (4-4) - Ohio State Buckeyes

The Jets fans are die-hard, passionate, and so are the Buckeyes’. The Jets are 4-4, and the Buckeyes are 7-2.

When New York doesn’t play their best football, they get beat (just like Ohio State). When Ohio State manages the game, and plays Ohio State football, they can’t be stopped (just like New York).

Miami Dolphins (3-4) - Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Great cheerleaders, and a great place. “The U” started the season with a brutal schedule. It wasn’t easy for the Dolphins, either. The Dolphins are 2-4, but they’re playing tough.

Miami (FL) had a great start to the season, but the relentless opponents week, after week have affected them in a negative way.

Their only chance to breathe was against UCF (who actually has a winning record).

The Dolphins had a tough duel in Week Seven, with the undefeated New Orleans Saints, and headed to the tricky Jets on Sunday, winning in a shootout 30-25.

Buffalo Bills (3-5) - Colorado Buffaloes

You might be able to make excuses for the Bills and Buffaloes this season, and that's understandable. Maybe it's the helmets, or maybe it's the level of play, but these teams are just alike in my opinion.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) - Cincinnati Bearcats

It’s a pretty big surprise seeing the Bearcats of Cincinnati being one of the top teams in college football. It might be an even bigger surprise that the Cincinnati Bengals are leading the AFC North Division.

Both teams are playing great on all levels, which is why they are thriving this season. That's a Bearcat, BTW. Yes, they do exist!

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) - Iowa Hawkeyes

This would be the most similar resemblance of all (as far as uniforms go). Every once in a while I have to know what day it is to tell if it's the Hawkeyes, or the Steelers that are the one playing.

And the fact that both teams are excelling this season doesn't help.

Baltimore Ravens (4-3) - Clemson Tigers

Baltimore started the season undefeated, and I wasn’t a bit surprised. But down the stretch, the Ravens have struggled.

Baltimore (4-3) is around 15th in most power rankings, and Clemson (5-3) is ranked around 15th in my unbiased power rankings.

Clemson for, some reason, resembles Baltimore—in many mysterious ways.

Cleveland Browns (1-6) - Bowling Green Falcons

Bowling Green reminds many people, myself included, of the Cleveland Browns.

It wouldn’t be Bowling Green’s first victory of the season (should they beat Buffalo this week), but there won’t be many more this season, and the same goes for Cleveland.

Indianapolis Colts (7-0) - Penn State Nittany Lions

Aside from the Colts being undefeated, these teams are very much alike. They've always been of the elite teams. A long history, they're close in location, and have an uncanny resemblance in uniforms.

Houston Texans (5-3) - Arizona Wildcats

No, that's not the Texans, it's the Arizona Wildcats. Both teams are at the top of their game, and are in encredibly tough conferences this season.

I figured the Texans were a shoe-in to make the playoffs this season, before it even started.

The Arizona Wildcats could make a case for being the second best Pac-10 team when it's all said and done.

Jacksonville Jagaurs (3-4) - Florida State Seminoles

All I see is confusion and failure for these two teams. FSU is 4-4, and the Jaguars suffered their fourth loss of the season on Sunday to the dismal Tennessee Titans.

It's a long road ahead for these Northern/Central Florida teams.

Tennessee Titans (1-6) - Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt and Tennessee have a lot more in common than meets the eye. They're practically next-door neighbors.

They both had great seasons last year, but they’re sinking like the Titanic this season.

Denver Broncos (6-1) - Boise State Broncos

Denver and Boise State have played phenomenal this season. One team is 6-1, and the other is 8-0.

They've both been a bit of a surprise this season, and hope to continue to be the premier team in their conference/divisions.

San Diego Chargers (4-3) - Air Force Falcons

I have always been reminded of the San Diego "Super" Chargers whenever I see Air Force playing.

But they're the Falcons. Why do they have a lightning bolt on their helmets?

Oakland Raiders (2-6) - Washington State Cougars

The disappointments are endless. The Cougars have suffered a blow nearly every week (this decade), much like the Raiders. The blowouts are out the wazzou!

Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) - San Diego State Aztecs

From the arrows on their helmets, to the major disappointments, San Diego State in every way reminds me of the Chiefs this season. Kansas City was just awful last season, and it was a year to forget for the Aztecs.

The Kansas City Chiefs were on my list to be a “surprise team” before the start of the season. I have to admit—I was surprised.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) - Oregon Ducks

In the past, these teams have played well, and their uniforms have looked similar, but never like this. Quack Attack added wings to their uniforms, so they can resemble the Eagles even more.

Oregon is playing extremely well, and they might be the best one-loss team in College Football. Before the season, the Eagles were thought of as a possible Superbowl Contender, and they’re still near the top.

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) - Oklahoma State Cowboys

High-power offenses, with strong defenses, comes to mind when I think of the Cowboys. When a top receiver decides to do something stupid, and starts huge distractions, the team starts playing worse. Sound familiar?

N.Y. Giants (5-3) - Kansas Jayhawks

It's uncanny how much the Jayhawks' uniforms favor the Gaints'. Interesting enough, both teams started the season with a 5-0 record, but have lost their last three games.

Washington Redskins (2-5) - Maryland Terps

"It's like looking in a mirror!" One team is 2-5 and the other is 2-6. Washington plays a lot like Maryland.

You may have thought before the season that Washington could have made a playoff run—by now I hope you’ve changed your mind.

Minnesota Vikings (7-1) - TCU Horned Frogs

Not too many college teams remind you of those Purple Vikings.

But the TCU Horned Frogs seem to have all of the pieces to the puzzle, just like Minnesota. These elite teams look to continue their dominance.

Green Bay Packers (4-3) - Michiagn Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines have looked dismal lately, but it's probably just a slump; a phase.

Two legendary teams with a ton of history hope to piece their season back together.

Chicago Bears (4-3) - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Typical Bears...you don't know what to expect. What happened to them two weeks ago at Cincinnati? And what happened to 'Tech two weeks ago at Texas A&M?

Overall, they're having good seasons, especially dealing with their divisions.

Detroit Lions (1-6) - Washington Huskies

The Lions aren't as bad as you might think. Sure, they're 1-6. But they went 0-16 last season. In addition, the Lions have played some very tough opponents.

The Washington Huskies were also winless last season, and are making improvements, despite a very difficult schedule.

New Orleans Saints (7-0) - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Two very tough teams in the Southeast that resemble in uniform, as well as style of play.

Known for having a great offense, the Yellow Jackets now have a pretty tough defense, and the Saints' defense is starting to look like their strong point.

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) - Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech and Atlanta are good teams, but they could come up short this season, way short. These three-loss teams are on a losing streak, and can't seem to get off the tracks.

Carolina Panthers (3-4) - North Carolina Tar Heels

"He's flying through the air with greatest of ease!" The Carolinas have been showed up many times this season, but when it comes down to crunch time, they've played Carolina football.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) - Troy Trojans

Albiet Troy is 6-2, their wins only consist over teams in the Sun Belt conference. Troy was blasted by Bowling Green (cupcake opponent), and lost to Florida 56-6. That sounds a lot like Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers are starting to play like they did in the last ‘70s. It’s a long road ahead—and its filled with speed bumps.

Arizona Cardinals (4-3) - USC Trojans

Needless to say, the Cardinals haven't always been a premier team. But they're at the top of their game now.

It seems like USC and Arizona missed each other on this one. The Trojans are still playing tough football, but not at the level that they're used to playing.

San Francisco 49ers (3-4) - Arizona State Sun Devils

High expectations to start the season, but they've failed to meet them, due to a tough schedule.

The 49ers are playing great football, but they've come up just shy on numerous occasions.

Seattle Seahawks (2-5) - Oregon State Beavers

Seattle brought out the ugliest uniforms in league histroy earlier this season, and Oregon decided to do the same.

But since Quack Attack is doing so well, I wasn't going to stick them with a team that's 2-5. Instead, they get "little brother, Oregon State."

S.T. Louis Rams (1-7) - Washington Huskies (of 2008)

The S.T. Louis Rams - Washington Huskies (of 2008)

The Washington Huskies were absolutely terrible last season, finishing 0-12. Last season the Huskies were most likely the worst team in College Football. And this season St. Louis is considerably the worst team in the NFL.

Interesting enough, you can actually see the frustration on quarterback Jake Locker's face, realizing he's going to play for the Rams next season.