Colorado College Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Buffaloes

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU) was established in 1876 and is the flagship campus of the University of Colorado system. The Buffaloes nickname was adopted in 1934 following a competition in the school newspaper. Around the same time, a live bison was adopted as the official mascot. CU has had a number of conference affiliations down the years, including the Big Eight, Big 12 and Pac-12.

After the collapse of the latter league, CU rejoined the Big 12 in 2024. The Buffaloes have won numerous national titles in skiing and cross country.

Answer: Mavericks

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) was founded in Grand Junction in 1925. The Mavericks nickname is probably alliterative as the school was originally known as Mesa College. CMU are members of the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

Answer: Mountaineers

Western Colorado University (WCU) was established in Gunnison in 1901. The nickname of Mountaineers alludes to the school's location in the Rocky Mountains. WCU is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The school is particularly strong in cross country, with numerous national titles at NCAA Division II level.

Answer: Falcons

The United States Air Force Academy (usually referred to as just Air Force in sporting terms) was established in Colorado Springs in 1954. The Falcons moniker was chosen by the school's first graduating class in 1959. Air Force is a member of the Mountain West Conference, whilst it's gridiron squad also competes against Army and Navy for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

The school's only national titles have come in women's swimming and diving.

Answer: Grizzlies

Adams State University was founded in 1921 in Alamaosa, and is named after former state governor Billy Adams. The school was known as Indians until 1996 when the more socially-acceptable Grizzlies was adopted. Adams State is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and have won numerous national titles at NCAA Division II level, mainly in cross country and indoor track and field.

Answer: Pioneers

The University of Denver was established in 1864 in the state capital of Colorado. Previously known as Ministers or Fighting Parsons, the school adopted Pioneers as their official moniker in 1925 following a student contest. Denver is a member of the Summit League for most sports but hasn't fielded a gridiron team since 1961.

The school has won numerous national titles, and is particularly strong in ice hockey and skiing.

Answer: ThunderWolves

Colorado State University Pueblo was founded in 1933, and was known as the University of Southern Colorado until 2003 when it adopted its current name; the school has been part of the Colorado State University system since 1985. The school was known as Indians until 1994 when Thunderwolves was adopted. CSU-Pueblo is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

In 2014, the Thunderwolves gridiron squad won the NCAA Division II national crown.

Answer: Rams

Colorado State University (CSU) was established in Fort Collins, Larimer County, in 1870. The school was originally nicknamed Aggies due to its earlier name of Colorado A&M; when the school's present name came into being in 1957, the moniker of Rams was adopted. CSU was a member of the Mountain West Conference from 1999 to 2025 (moved to the Pac-12 in 2026).

Answer: Bears

The University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) was founded in 1889 in Greeley, Weld County. The school's Bears nickname originates from a bear carving on a totem pole which was gifted to the school in 1914. UNCO are members of the Big Sky Conference for most sports. Previously an NCAA Division II school, the Bears' gridiron team won consecutive national titles at that level in 1996-97.

Answer: Skyhawks

Fort Lewis College was founded in 1948 in Durango, La Plata County, originally as an Indian school. The school had a number of nicknames, including Beavers, Aggies and Raiders, before Skyhawks was adopted in 1994. Fort Lewis is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and is particularly strong in soccer, with their men's teams winning three NCAA Division II national titles between 2005 and 2011.