Logo of a small college football team, used from 1963 until 1973, the Southern University Jaguars. The school began play in 1916 and currently plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Jaguars have claimed a total of 9 Black College national championships. The school’s pro football alumni include Mel Blount, Harold Carmichael, Rich Jackson, Isiah Robertson and Aeneas Williams.
Logo of a college football team, used from 1980 until 1989 – the Boston University Terriers. The school played in the Yankee Conference when this logo was used, but now are members of the Atlantic Ten. Former Terrier players who have gone on to play pro football include Butch Byrd, Jim Jensen, Bill Brooks, Paul Farren, Mike Leach and Reggie Rucker.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Sun Belt Conference, the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The logo has been in use since 2008, when the school changed its’ team name from Indians. Players who have gone on to success in pro football include Bill Bergey, Alex Carrington, Fred Barnett, Maurice Carthon, Ray Brown, Carlos Emmons and Ken Jones.
Logo of a major college football team that plays in the Pacific 12 Conference, the Arizona State Sun Devils. This logo was used from 1980 until 2010. The program began way back in 1897 and has produced many pro football players over the years, including Charley Taylor, Mike Haynes, Randall McDaniel, Terrell Suggs, Danny White, Jake Plummer, Darren Woodson, John Henry Johnson, Curley Culp and Pat Tillman.
Logo of a college football team, the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State. They play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and have fielded a team since 1953. Despite being a small school team that plays in Division 1-AA, the Delta Devils have sent numerous players on to NFL careers, including Ashley Ambrose, Rickey Feacher, Fred Thomas, Ted Washington Sr. and Hall of Famers Deacon Jones and Jerry Rice.
Logo of a college football program that plays in the Mountain West Conference, the San Diego State Aztecs. The team began play in 1921 and at one time or another boasted NFL legends Don Coryell, Brian Billick, Sean Payton, Joe Gibbs and John Madden on their coaching staff. The school has been a fertile ground for sending players on to professional football, with the list including Marshall Faulk, Brian Sipe, Dennis Shaw, Herman Edwards, Isaac Curtis and Fred Dryer.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Mid-American Conference, the Kent State Golden Flashes. The school first fielded a team in 1920, and has produced 39 consensus All Americans. Plenty of KSU alumni have gone on to professional football careers, including Jack Lambert, Julian Edelman, Don Nottingham, James Harrison, Josh Cribbs and Antonio Gates, who played basketball at the school but is now a star tight end in the NFL.
Logo of the Omaha Mammoths, who played in the Fall Experimental Football League for one season in 2014. The FXFL was trying to establish themselves as a developmental league for the NFL, and actually is still trying today. The Mammoths had the league’s best attendance, but were relocated to become the Hudson Valley Fort after one year as the league tried to cut travel costs. The only recognizable names on the team’s roster were Alonzo Highsmith Jr. and wide receiver Gerald Ford, who did not go on to become president.
Logo of a college football program, the Indiana Hoosiers, who play in the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosier program has existed since 1887, and has sent numerous players on to pro football careers, including Pete Pihos, Earl Faison, Antwan Randle-El, Chris Dielman, Bob Skoronski, George Taliaferro and Trent Green.
Logo of the National Football League’s latest relocated franchise, the Los Angeles Chargers. An original member of the old American Football League, the Chargers actually were born in L.A., spending only their inaugural season of 1960 in that city before moving to San Diego. The coach of the original L.A. Chargers was Hall of Famer Sid Gillman, considered a pioneer in the modern passing game. That team had a 10-4 record, won the Western Division title, but lost to the Houston Oilers in the very first AFL Championship game.