When College Kids Took on the Champs: The Forgotten Tradition of the College All-Star Game

Yes, NFL teams used to play college kids every summer — and sometimes, the kids won.

From 1934 to 1976, one of the strangest and most exciting traditions in American football took place every summer: the reigning NFL champions would square off against a hand-picked team of the nation’s best college players in a high-profile preseason exhibition known as the Chicago College All-Star Game.

Think about that for a second — the best graduating seniors in the country, playing together for the first time, would take on the most dominant pro team in football. No practice squad reps. No scrimmages. Just a full-on showdown, usually played in front of 70,000 fans. The results were often chaotic, sometimes historic, and always unpredictable.

Here’s a look back at one of the most unique spectacles in football history.

The First Game: 1934, Bears vs. the Best of College Football

The idea was born during the Great Depression as both a publicity stunt and a charitable fundraiser. Organized by the Chicago Tribune and first played in 1934, the inaugural game featured the Chicago Bears — the NFL champions — against a team of college All-Stars led by legendary coach Bob Zuppke.

The result? A shocking 0–0 tie in front of nearly 80,000 fans at Soldier Field. The fans were hooked, the gate receipts were massive, and just like that, a tradition was born. The game became an annual summer highlight and a rite of passage for graduating college stars.

College Legends Who Played in the Game

Over the years, the College All-Star roster became a who’s who of future NFL greats. Some notable names who suited up as college stars include:

• Walter Payton (Jackson State) – Starred in the 1975 All-Star Game against the Steelers; his electric play offered a preview of his Hall of Fame NFL career with the Chicago Bears.
• Sammy Baugh (TCU) – Played in the 1937 game, leading the All-Stars to an upset win over the Packers with a legendary TD pass.
• Gaynell Tinsley (LSU) – Caught Baugh’s touchdown pass in that same 1937 victory, cementing both players’ legacy.
• George Mira (Miami) – Quarterbacked the All-Stars to their dramatic 1963 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
• Ollie Matson (University of San Francisco) – Played in the 1952 edition, showcasing the power-speed combo that made him a Hall of Famer.
• Bob Griese (Purdue) – Took part in the 1967 game, shortly before becoming a two-time Super Bowl-winning QB with the Dolphins.
• Dick Butkus (Illinois) – Known for his ferocity even in college, Butkus participated in the 1965 All-Star Game before joining the Bears.
• Johnny Lujack (Notre Dame) – The 1947 Heisman winner played in the 1948 edition before launching his career with the Bears.
• Jackie Slater (Jackson State) – Appeared in the final 1976 game, just before starting his 20-season Hall of Fame career with the Rams.

These weren’t just future pros — they were future Hall of Famers, testing their skills against fully formed NFL championship rosters. The game served as both a showcase and a crash course in the speed and physicality of the pro level.

When the College Kids Actually Won

Despite the odds — a thrown-together roster, limited prep time, and facing the best team in football — the College All-Stars didn’t just compete… they won.

The All-Stars defeated the NFL champions eight times between 1934 and 1976. Some of the most notable victories include:

• 1937: All-Stars 6, Green Bay Packers 0
• 1946: All-Stars 16, Los Angeles Rams 0
• 1955: All-Stars 30, Cleveland Browns 27
• 1963: All-Stars 20, Green Bay Packers 17

The 1963 upset over Vince Lombardi’s Packers was particularly memorable. The Packers were coming off back-to-back titles, yet the college squad — led by Notre Dame QB George Mira — pulled off a dramatic win. Lombardi reportedly hated the game after that and became one of its most vocal critics.

Venues: Soldier Field and the Heart of Chicago

The College All-Star Game was always rooted in Chicago, with nearly every contest played at Soldier Field. At its height, the game would draw over 100,000 fans — a mix of diehard NFL followers and college football faithful eager to see how their school’s stars stacked up against the pros.

Only a handful of games were moved or postponed due to weather, scheduling, or turf issues, but Chicago remained the soul of the series for over four decades.

The Last Game: 1976, Steelers vs. the Storm

By the mid-1970s, cracks were forming. NFL teams had more to lose — players were bigger investments, training camps were more structured, and the risk of injury in a meaningless game became too high. Meanwhile, college players often skipped the game to report to their new pro teams.

The final straw came in 1976, when the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers were scheduled to face the All-Stars. A torrential storm rolled into Chicago, turning Soldier Field into a mud pit. After just two quarters, the game was called off with the Steelers leading 24–0.

The experiment was over. NFL owners voted to end the series permanently. The 1976 edition would go down as the final time college kids would take on the champions.

Could it Happen Today?

It sounds impossible now, but for over 40 years, fans watched future pros suit up one last time to challenge the best team in football — and occasionally knock them off.

Can you imagine Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter taking on Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in August? There's not a chance — not with the money involved in football today.

The game may be gone, but the spirit of the College All-Stars vs. the NFL Champs remains one of the most fascinating forgotten chapters in football history.