Do you think an NCAAF team could beat an NFL team?

Question

For instance, do you think the ohio state buckeyes would beat the detroit lions if they played this weekend? At the present time the buckeyes are undefeated and the lions are 2-12. I think if you have a really strong college team and a weak pro team, then its possible and even probable. Discuss!

Answer 1

In a game where both teams pulled out all the stops, in other words not an exhibition type game, but a real slobber knocker, the NFL team would absolutely crush the college team. The Raiders would easily thump Ohio State, and what's more, it would be real ugly by half time. They could play ten times and each time the outcome would be the same.

Here is the problem the college team faces: Even though the pro team absolutely sucks against NFL competition, it IS NFL competition. And since the Buccaneers accomplished it in 1976, no NFL team has managed to go 0-16, meaning that they did beat another NFL team. And generally, even the worst teams did it maybe two to four times in a season.

There is not all that much difference between the top NFL team and the bottom NFL team in talent. Move Drew Brees, DeMarcus Ware, LaDanian Thomlinson and Steve Hutchinson to the Raiders and they are in the playoffs.

In college, the best teams, in the days of 85 scholarship limits, beat the other teams through depth. Ohio State's first team is not all theat much better than say Purdue's, but they will eat up Purdue just by having a second team that is lots better at every position. This is why you see a poor team play with a good team for a half, but then wilt. They just get beaten down.

The college team might have 10-15 players capable of being on an NFL roster at some point. The NFL team will have 53 right at game time. That, in my opinion would doom the college team. That is without even mentioning the differences in speed and size at the pro level.

It would be a crushing, demoralizing and possibly even life threatening defeat for the college team.

Answer 2

The three guys above me are correct - anyone who thinks that even the best college team has a chance against the worst NFL team knows nothing about football.

Every NFL player was obviously good enough to make the jump from college, whereas the best teams in college football will be fortunate to see 10 of their guys make the pros. To compete with the depth, the more mature and developed players, would be impossible for a college team.

In your hypothetical matchup, the Lions would likely beat the Buckeyes by 20 points or more. Ohio State is a great COLLEGE team, but there's no way they could match up. Ohio State has at least 10-12 starters who will never see the NFL, which means that Detroit is going to be stronger at every one of those positions. And even a guy like Troy Smith, at this point, would not fare any better than a QB like Kitna in an NFL game.

There's just no comparison.

Answer 3

Interesting question, and an easy answer. I know, take the best college team (Ohio State or Florida) and throw them out in the field against the worst NFL team (the Raiders) and see who wins. The NFL team will win, think about, the NFL is filled with the best players from all colleges around the country. It like accumulating a college Pro-Bowl caliber team in the NFL. The NFL is full of guys that run 4.4/40s and may have 5 or 6 guys on a college team to be able to do that.

Answer 4

No; the best college team could not beat the worst pro team (Lions or Raiders). You have to remember that only a few players from a college team will make the NFL. Every player on an NFL team was a star in college so you have better athletes on the pro teams. Additonally, you have the pride factor. No pro team would allow themselves to be disgraced by losing to a college team. In fact, the score would be one-sided in favor of the pro team. Games are won and lost on line play and the pro lineman on both sides of the ball would dominate. Look how hard a college line star like Gallery of Raiders has had to work to adapt to the NFL. The thought seems logical, but in reality the pro team will dominate.

Answer 5

I really think the biggest factor comes down to the offensive line and defensive line of the college team. With the experience that comes with playing in the nfl, The defensive line of the lions could probably show the Buckeye offensive line a thing or two. You have to figure that the players on the nfl teams were the best of the best in college.

Answer 6

Everyone above is correct -- couple of things to think about.
- The NFL defensive line would slaughter the college O-Line, considering the vast majority of college lineman can't get a job on NFL scouting teams.
- A college passing quarterback would throw nothing but interceptions when he's not being sacked. Think about it -- even the best college QBs are almost always dazed and confused as NFL rookies, and they're supported by pro blockers and receivers.
- The NFL DBs would be stuck on any college receiver like flypaper. The WRs would never get open.
- If the college team tried some option plays the QB would get dismembered by NFL defensive ends and linebackers.

Answer 7

Ohio State would lose to Detroit, although it would be close. Even on a team as good as Ohio State you only have 7-12 total starters (offense and defense combined) that will make it into the NFL. Although Detroit is bad, most of their players were very good college players and the talent level would be too high for Ohio State, or another good college team, to overcome.

Answer 8

oh man thats a hard one...you gotta realize the buck eyes may have 5-10 players that (right now) could play at the next level...the lions have an entire roster that has made it to the next level...physically and athleticly i have to assume the Lions would have the advantage...however, as a team the buckeyes play better together. under dogs do pull out huge wins sometimes, so i think OH ST would have a good chance...if i had to bet money on it, id take the Lions...as a spread id give the buck eyes 4...i do think it would be a close game.

Answer 9

Nope. No way. And I really don't like the NFL. I prefer the college game more.

There's more speed. More sophistication in offensive and defensive schemes. More brute strength in the lines. And way more experience.

Think about how many rookie quarterbacks are successful in the NFL. Not many. Usually, they hold a clipboard for a couple of seasons before they actually make it into games. Why? Because even the best college quarterbacks have difficulty reading a pro defense.

Answer 10

Not even possible. Think about it. There are at most like 4 or 5 players from a given team that get drafted every year from any given team. Then, only like 1 or 2 of them end up actually starting with any consistency. So on any given team, there are at most 5 or 6 future NFL starters. And that is after they are older and have more NFL coaching.