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1986 Colorado Buffaloes football team
| 1986 Colorado Buffaloes football |
|---|
| Big Eight Conference |
| 6–6 (6–1 Big 8) |
| Bill McCartney (5th season) |
| Gerry DiNardo (3rd season) |
| Wishbone |
| Lou Tepper (4th season) |
| 3–4 |
| Steve Beck |
| Eric Coyle |
| Barry Remington |
| Folsom Field |
The 1986 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Big Eight Conference during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Bill McCartney, Colorado opened with four losses, but finished the regular season at 6–5 (6–1 in Big 8, second). It was their best conference record in a quarter century, and they were invited to the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston on New Year's Eve.
The Buffaloes were upset 23–7 in the opener by intrastate rival Colorado State, but defeated Nebraska for the first time in nineteen years, and the first time in Boulder since 1960.
| Date | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | Colorado State* | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | KCNC | L 7–23 | 45,109 | |
| September 13 | at Oregon* | Autzen StadiumEugene, OR | L 30–32 | 26,155 | ||
| September 20 | at Ohio State* | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | L 10–13 | 88,404 | ||
| September 27 | No. 10 Arizona* | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | Raycom | L 21–24 | 41,024 | |
| October 11 | at Missouri | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | Raycom | W 17–12 | 42,780 | |
| October 18 | Iowa State | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | W 31–3 | 41,215 | ||
| October 25 | No. 3 Nebraska | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | W 20–10 | 52,440 | ||
| November 1 | at Oklahoma State | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | Raycom | W 31–14 | 36,900 | |
| November 8 | Kansas | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | W 17–10 | 37,056 | ||
| November 15 | No. 4 Oklahoma | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | Raycom | L 0–28 | 52,707 | |
| November 22 | at Kansas State | KSU StadiumManhattan, KS (rivalry) | W 49–3 | 14,700 | ||
| December 31 | vs. No. 14 Baylor* | Rice StadiumHouston, TX (Bluebonnet Bowl) | Raycom | L 9–21 | 40,470 | |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |
The fans tore down the goal posts as the Buffaloes defeated Nebraska for the first time since 1967, breaking a streak of 18 losses to the Huskers, and the first win in Boulder over NU since 1960. "This is a moment in our program we'll always cherish", said Colorado head coach Bill McCartney. "Up to this point I don't think we've beaten a great team. We did today. And I think we have a rivalry now."
Head coach: Bill McCartney
Assistant coaches: Lou Tepper (AHC/DC/ILB), Gerry DiNardo (OC/TE), Gary Barnett (QB/FB), Steve Bernstein (DB), Mike Hankwitz (OLB), Steve Logan (RB), Oliver Lucas (WR), Les Miles (OL), Ron Vanderlinden (DL)
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