College Counterpart: AFC West
Have you ever wondered who the “Alabama of the NFL” was, or the “New York Jets of College Football”? What is the college football equivalent of your favorite NFL team? Have they always been good, or have they been in a “rebuilding” phase for the past 50 years? In this article, I’ll be covering all of that in as much detail as possible. I’ll start off by listing the closest college by geography, and then comparing it to it’s NFL counterpart. Without further ado, lets begin with the AFC West.
Denver Broncos: Colorado Buffaloes
From a geographical standpoint, the Broncos fit right in with the Colorado Buffaloes. They may not be on the same skill level, but Boulder, quite literally, is only a stones throw away from the Mile High City. David Bakhtiari, Mason Crosby, Isaiah Oliver, and Chidobe Awuzie are all former Buffaloes playing in the NFL.
Don’t forget that Phillip Lindsay, Denver’s former running back, also started off playing at Boulder. Both the Broncos and their college affiliate have had historic track records. The Buffaloes won a national championship in 1990, and even had a 30 for 30 documentary on their story. With three Super Bowl rings, the Broncos haven’t done too bad for themselves in the AFC West either.
When focusing on skill alone, one could draw a connection between the Denver Broncos and the Texas Longhorns. Both have rich histories, but have struggled to find success as of late. Denver made the news when they signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson. Texas did the same when they signed some kid named Arch Manning. Wait, didn’t his uncle also play for the Broncos? I heard he was a pretty good football player too.
Kansas City Chiefs: Missouri Tigers
If you haven’t heard by now, the Kansas City Chiefs are from Missouri, not Kansas. You can’t be Kansas State, and I’m really sure you don’t want to be the lowly Kansas Jayhawks. The Missouri Tigers are not a college team to be ashamed of though. They’ve produced a few notable NFL quarterbacks of their own over the years. Drew Lock, Blaine Gabbert, and Chase Daniel have all carved out respectable NFL careers for themselves. And hey, Kansas City’s very own Nick Bolton also went to Mizzou.
In terms of overall success, the Chiefs resemble the Clemson Tigers. Like Clemson, the Chiefs have always been one of the top two teams for the past ten years or so. Like Alabama, they’re either winning championships or at least competing for one. Both teams are extremely dominant in their divisions. The Tigers have ruled the ACC for quite some time now, and really should be realigned to the SEC. The Chiefs have been a dynasty ever since Patrick Mahomes, and the Tigers have been a dynasty ever since Dabo Sweeney.
As someone who is a Syracuse fan AND a Raider fan, these two teams make my life a living hell. Imagine watching Clemson clap Syracuse on Saturday, and then Kansas City beat down on the Raiders on Sunday. I suppose part of the reason I decided to associate these two teams is because I hate them both equally with a passion…
Las Vegas Raiders: Cal Bears
The Raiders may be in Nevada, but their heart will forever reside in the bay. You can take the Raiders out of Oakland, but you can’t take the Oakland out of the Raiders. Their image, their mystique and their bad boy attitude has always been seen as a badge of honor for the team.
The University of California-Berkeley has a strong tie with the Silver and Black. Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, DeSean Jackson, and Nnamdi Asomugha are all former Bears that suited up for the Raiders. Quarterback Chase Garbers, who Vegas signed as an undrafted free agent back in May, also hailed from Berkeley.
Combined, these two programs won eight national championships. But while both teams are known for their early accolades throughout the 20th century, they’ve also both had their fair share of struggles along the way. The last time the Golden Bears were relevant, they had some no name quarterback named Aaron Rodgers under center. Like the Bears, the Raiders haven’t been taken seriously since the early 2000’s.
Right now, it looks like the Raiders will have a better chance at success this year. Fresh off their first playoff appearance since 2016, the Raiders look to add another page to their Cinderella run. With new faces and an experienced front office, Las Vegas has a serious chance at ruling the AFC West.
Los Angeles Chargers: UCLA
The Chargers would’ve been listed here as USC, but let’s be honest…there’s another LA team that’s more deserving. First off, you actually have to have fans to be considered for this role. Paid actors dressed in powder blue knockoffs don’t count as real spectators. Unlike the Super Bowl winning Rams, the Chargers don’t have much of a history with the city of Los Angeles.
They may have started off there way back in 1960, but only a year later in 1961, they decided to leave for a better offer. Sorry, but loyalty is not something that runs through the Chargers’ front office. Teams that call timeouts 38 seconds away from a playoff berth will be excluded from this decision. The Chargers have never won a Super Bowl. The Bruins haven’t hoisted the national championship trophy since Eisenhower was president (1954).
When you look at the uniform comparison, UCLA and Los Angeles have a lot in common. They both have the light blue jerseys, with a gold pair of pants. Their team mascots are similar in that nobody actually knows what a “charger”, or “bruin” is. Hey, at least they have that going for them.
The Key Takeaway
Regardless of who tops the AFC West this year, one thing is certain. Later this fall, the battle for that extra playoff spot will be an absolute bloodbath. The Chiefs may repeat as division champs. Maybe the Chargers don’t blow their shot. Maybe the Broncos can find the fountain of youth and get a couple more years out of Russell Wilson. The Raiders are always overlooked, and what’s different this year? This year, they’re legit playoff contenders. They might actually do the impossible and win the AFC this year…
Thanks for reading my article, I appreciate the support! I just started writing for Gridiron Heroics, but if you’re interested in checking out more of my work here’s a link to another article of mine