Iowa College Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peacocks

Upper Iowa University was founded in 1857 in the city of Fayette. The Peacocks nickname was chosen after the school adopted the colours of peacock blue and white. Upper Iowa joined the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2023.

Answer: Panthers

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) was founded in 1876 in the city of Cedar Falls, Hawk County. A competition was held in 1931 to choose a new nickname for the school, and it was a member of their gridiron squad who submitted Purple Panthers (the purple bit was later dropped). UNI are members of the Missouri Valley Conference for most sports, with their gridiron squad competing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Answer: Norse

Luther College was established in 1861 in Decorah, Winneshiek County. The Norse nickname alludes to the school's founding by Norwegian immigrants. Luther is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference (formerly known as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

Answer: Bulldogs

Drake University was founded in 1881 in Iowa's state capital, Des Moines, and is named after Francis Drake, a Union general during the Civil War. Bulldogs is a very common nickname in US college sports, and Drake began using this moniker in 1908, when their gridiron coach began bringing these dogs to the sidelines during games. Drake is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference for most sports, with their gridiron squad competing in the Pioneer League.

Answer: Rams

Cornell College was founded in 1853 in Mount Vernon, Linn County. Named after tycoon William Wesley Cornell, the school shouldn't be confused with Ivy League Institution Cornell University, which is located in Ithaca, New York. The school's Rams moniker was chosen by a student in a 1949 competition to replace the previous nickname of Purples. Corrnell is a member of the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference and is famed for its wrestling program.

Answer: Hawkeyes

The University of Iowa was established in 1847 in Iowa City, Johnson County. The Hawkeyes nickname, which originated in the James Fenimore Cooper novel "The Last of the Mohicans", is shared with that of the state itself. Iowa have been members of the Big Ten Conference since 1899. The school is most famous for its men's wrestling squads, who won 21 national crowns between 1975 and 2021.

Answer: Dutch

Central College was founded in Pella, Marion County, in 1853. The Dutch nickname alludes to the immigrants who founded the school. Central College is a member of the American Rivers Conference. The Dutch have won a number of national titles at NCAA Division II level, with particular success in softball and volleyball.

Answer: Fighting Bees

St Ambrose University was founded in 1882 in Davenport, Scott County. The school's unique nickname refers to the 4th century Italian saint - by legend, a swarm of bees landed on his face when he was a baby. The school is a member of the NAIA Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference for most sports, with their gridiron squad competing in the Mid-States Football Association.

Answer: Chargers

Briar Cliff University was founded in 1930 in Sioux City, and is named after the hill on which it is located. The school shares its nickname with The Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL. Briar Cliff are members of the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Answer: Cyclones

Iowa State University was established in 1858 in the city of Ames, Story County. The Cyclones nickname dated back to 1895 when the state was struck by a number of deadly cyclones. The school was a founding member of the Big 12 Conference in 1994. The Cyclones have won numerous national titles, being particularly strong in men's wrestling and both men's and women's cross country.