Colorado Buffaloes football

History

Beginning in 1890, the Buffaloes have appeared in 29 bowl games (36th all-time), and won 27 conference championships, 5 division championships and an AP national championship in 1990.

Folsom Field was built in 1924, and since then, Colorado has a 308–169–14 record at home through the 2016 season. The road game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 24, 2006, was Colorado's 1,100th football game. The game on September 12, 2015, against Massachusetts was the school's 1,200th football game. In 1994, the Buffaloes had their first Heisman winner, being Rashaan Salaam. Then 20 years later, Travis Hunter (later nicknamed the Unicorn) became their second Heisman winner. Being famous for playing both ways. At WR and CB. Being the first defensive player to win the award since Charles Woodson.

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1890–1892, 1905)
• Colorado Football Association (1893–1904, 1906–1908)
• Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference/Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (1909–1937)
• Mountain States Conference (1938–1947)
• Big Eight Conference (1948–1995)
• Big 12 Conference (1996–2010, 2024–present)
• Pac-12 Conference (2011–2023)

Championships

National championships

Colorado won one national championship in football for 1990.

;1990 season Main article: 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team

Colorado won the national championship in 1990 under the direction of head coach Bill McCartney, who helmed the team from 1982 to 1994. While the Georgia Tech won the United Press International Coaches Poll, Colorado won the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America and other polls. Colorado played the most difficult schedule in the country, beat more ranked teams and conference champions. Colorado capped the season with a 10–9 win over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, a rematch of the 1989 season Orange Bowl Game which Notre Dame won 21–6. Colorado's tie came against Tennessee, who was ranked No. 8, the first week of the season when Colorado was ranked No. 5. The second week gave the Buffs a scare, scoring with 12 seconds left in the game on a 4th and Goal attempt. The next week gave Colorado its only loss of the season, losing 23–22 to Illinois and dropping Colorado to No. 20 in the polls. Colorado then went on to beat teams ranked (at the time) No. 22 Texas, No. 12 Washington, No. 22 Oklahoma, and No. 3 Nebraska. They ended the season 7–0 in the Big Eight Conference for the second straight season. They then capped the season with a win over Notre Dame who were number 1 until a loss in their second to last game of the regular season.

Conference championships

Colorado has won 26 conference championships in over a century of college play, spanning through five conferences.

† Co-champions

Division championships

† Co-champions

Head coaches

Main article: List of Colorado Buffaloes head football coaches

The Buffaloes have played in 1,109 games during their 125 seasons, through 2014. In those seasons, 11 coaches have led Colorado to postseason bowl games: Bunny Oakes, Dallas Ward, Marcel M. Mazur, Bud Davis, Eddie Crowder, Bill Mallory, Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel, Gary Barnett, Dan Hawkins, Mike MacIntyre and Karl Dorrell. Ten coaches have won conference championships with the Buffaloes: Fred Folsom, Myron Witham, William Saunders, Oakes, Jim Yeager, Sonny Grandelius, Mallory, McCartney and Barnett. The Buffaloes won the national championship in 1990, and have won a total of 28 conference championships.

McCartney is the all-time leader in games coached with 153, total wins with 93, and conference wins with 58. Folsom had the longest tenure as head coach, remaining in the position for 15 seasons. Harry Heller and Willis Keinholtz are tied for the highest overall winning percentage. Each served a single season and won eight of his nine games for a winning percentage of .889. Of coaches who served more than one season, Folsom leads with a .765 winning percentage. Davis, in terms of overall winning percentage, is the worst coach the Buffaloes have had with a .200 winning percentage. No Colorado coach has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, although McCartney was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame in 1996.

Mike MacIntyre had brief success with the program. Hired on Dec. 10, 2012, MacIntyre compiled a 30–44 record over five-plus seasons at Colorado. In 2016, MacIntyre lead Colorado to a 10–2 regular season and a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game. It was the first winning season for Colorado since 2005, ending a 10-year streak of finishing below .500. 2016 was also the best season for the Buffaloes since 2001. As well, it marked their first time playing in a conference championship game since the 2005 Big 12 Championship Game. The team also went 8–2 in the Pac-12 after having five conference wins in the previous five seasons. Mike MacIntyre was named the Walter Camp 2016 Coach of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation, the second Colorado football coach to earn the honor (Bill McCartney in 1989). MacIntyre was also awarded the 2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year, American Football Coaches Association's coach of the year and comeback coach of the year awards, the Associated Press coach of the year, and the Eddie Robinson coach of the year by the Football Writers Association of America. In 2018, the Buffaloes started out the season 5–0 with wins against rivals Colorado State, Nebraska, Arizona State, and UCLA - however, MacIntyre was fired as the head coach on November 18, 2018, after a six-game losing streak.

Mike Sanford was named interim Head Coach after Karl Dorrell was fired during the 2022 season, Sanford was previously the Buffaloes Offensive Coordinator for the start of the 2022 campaign. On December 3, Colorado announced Deion Sanders as Head Football Coach.

Venues

• Campus fields (1890–1901)
• Gamble Field (1901–1924)
• Folsom Field (1924–present)

Rivalries

Nebraska

Main article: Colorado–Nebraska football rivalry

A traditional college football rivalry with the Nebraska Cornhuskers restarted in the 1980s (many historical documents show the importance of this game going back to 1898) when Bill McCartney declared the conference opponent to be their rival. His theory was since Nebraska was such a powerhouse team, if Colorado was able to beat them then they would be a good team. Colorado began to repeatedly threaten Nebraska in the late 1980s, following their win over the Huskers in 1986, and then surpassed the Huskers for the Big 8 crown in 1989.

In 1990, Colorado beat Nebraska 27–12 in Lincoln for the first time since 1967, en route to their first national title. From 1996 to 2000, the series was extremely competitive, with the margin of victory by NU in those five years being only 15 points combined. The rivalry was further buoyed by the introduction of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, which moved Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the southern division with the four new schools from Texas, formerly in the Southwest Conference. Nebraska had traditionally finished the Big 8 conference schedule with a rivalry game with Oklahoma, but the two were now in different divisions, which meant they met every other year in the regular season. Colorado replaced Oklahoma as Nebraska's final conference game of the regular season, which further intensified the rivalry. In 2001 No. 1 Nebraska came to Folsom Field undefeated and left at the short end of a nationally televised 62–36 blowout. Both teams departed the Big 12 in 2011, as NU headed east to join the Big Ten and the future of the rivalry was in doubt. On February 7, 2013, Colorado and Nebraska agreed to renew the rivalry. Colorado traveled to Lincoln in 2018 and won 33–28 (winning against Nebraska for the first time since 2007 and the first time in Lincoln since 2004). On September 7, 2019, Colorado mounted an improbable comeback after being down 17–0 at half, to win the game in overtime, 34–31. After a 3-year break, Nebraska lost 36–14 to Colorado in Boulder in 2023, but then won against Colorado 28-10 in 2024. Nebraska leads the series 50–21–2 through the 2024 season.

Colorado State

Main article: Rocky Mountain Showdown

Colorado's in-state rival is the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference, located north of Boulder in Fort Collins. The two schools are separated by 45 miles (72 km) and both consider it important and noteworthy to beat the other for bragging rights for the next year. The two football teams annually compete in the Rocky Mountain Showdown for the Centennial Cup, played in Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder. The trophy takes its name from the state of Colorado's nickname of "The Centennial State". The Buffaloes lead the series 67–22–2 through the 2023 season.

Utah

Main article: Rumble in the Rockies

The rivalry with Utah ran from 1903 to 1962, in which Utah and Colorado played each other nearly every year; through 1962 they had met 57 times. At the time, it was the second-most played rivalry for both teams (Utah had played Utah State 62 times; Colorado had played Colorado State 61 times). The rivalry was dormant until 2011, when both teams joined the Pac-12, renewing the rivalry on an annual basis. The Colorado–Utah rivalry remains the fifth-most played rivalry in Utah's history, and eighth-most in Colorado's history. Utah leads the series 34-32-3 through the 2022 season.

Bowl games

Main article: List of Colorado Buffaloes bowl games

Colorado has participated in 31 bowl games, with a record of .

Notable players

• Dick Anderson
• Bobby Anderson
• Troy Archer
• Tom Ashworth
• Chidobe Awuzie
• David Bakhtiari
• Estes Banks
• Marlon Barnes
• Brad Bedell
• Mitch Berger
• Frank Bernardi
• Tony Berti
• Greg Biekert
• Eric Bieniemy
• Jeremy Bloom
• Frank Bosch
• Ronnie Bradford
• Cliff Branch
• Tyler Brayton
• Paul Briggs
• Pete Brock
• Stan Brock
• Tom Brookshier
• Chad Brown
• Chris Brown
• Jalil Brown
• Bill Brundige
• Larry Brunson
• Cullen Bryant
• Brian Cabral
• J.V. Cain
• Brian Calhoun
• Gary Campbell
• Jeff Campbell
• Rae Carruth
• Darrin Chiaverini
• Franklin Clarke
• Shannon Clavelle
• Mark Cooney
• Eric Coyle
• Claude Crabb
• Ken Crawley
• Mason Crosby
• T. J. Cunningham
• Brian Daniels
• Charlie Davis
• Mike Davis
• John Denvir
• Koy Detmer
• Tyson DeVree
• Jordon Dizon
• Jeff Donaldson
• Eddie Dove
• Boyd Dowler
• Justin Drescher
• Jon Embree
• Christian Fauria
• Mark Fenton
• Deon Figures
• Bill Frank
• Joe Garten
• Daniel Graham
• Charlie Greer
• Dan Grimm
• Andre Gurode
• D.J. Hackett
• Darian Hagan
• Carroll Hardy
• Don Hasselbeck
• Dennis Havig
• Mark Haynes
• Cody Hawkins
• Ralph Heck
• Barry Helton
• Jerry Hillebrand
• Merwin Hodel
• Darius Holland
• Greg Horton
• Travis Hunter
• Hale Irwin
• Heath Irwin
• Brian Iwuh
• Charles Johnson
• Charlie Johnson
• Ken Johnson
• Richard Johnson
• Sam Rogers
• Ted Johnson
• Brad Jones
• Fred Jones
• Greg Jones
• Vance Joseph
• Ben Kelly
• Jon Keyworth
• Joe Klopfenstein
• Gary Knafelc
• Mark Koncar
• Mike Kozlowski
• Terry Kunz
• Jay Leeuwenburg
• Matt Lepsis
• Michael Lewis
• Phillip Lindsay
• Dave Logan
• Wayne Lucier
• Vaka Manupuna
• Bo Matthews
• Matt McChesney
• Dave McCloughan
• Mike McCoy
• Kanavis McGhee
• Odis McKinney
• Scotty McKnight
• Ron Merkerson
• Matt Miller
• Mike Montler
• Emery Moorehead
• Chris Naeole
• Garry Howe
• Chris Hudson
• Hannibal Navies
• Erik Norgard
• Gabe Nyenhuis
• Herb Orvis
• Whitney Paul
• Rod Perry
• Tyler Polumbus
• Mike Pritchard
• Mickey Pruitt
• Vince Rafferty
• Tony Reed
• Leonard Renfro
• Paul Richardson
• Sam Rogers
• Tom Rouen
• Lee Rouson
• Matt Russell
• Rashaan Salaam
• Shedeur Sanders
• Victor Scott
• Jimmy Smith
• Nate Solder
• Ariel Solomon
• Nelson Spruce
• John Stearns
• Kordell Stewart
• Donald Strickland
• Quinn Sypniewski
• Sean Tufts
• Lawrence Vickers
• Thaddaeus Washington
• Michael Westbrook
• Byron White
• Sam Wilder
• Alfred Williams

Currently active in the NFL

• Chidobe Awuzie
• B. J. Green
• Arlington Hambright
• Jimmy Horn Jr.
• Travis Hunter
• Nate Landman
• Derrick McLendon
• Isaiah Oliver
• Brady Russell
• Shedeur Sanders
• Laviska Shenault
• Will Sheppard
• Will Sherman
• Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig
• Josh Tupou
• Xavier Weaver
• LaJohntay Wester
• Juwann Winfree
• Ahkello Witherspoon

Awards

Heisman Trophy{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

Other award winners

Players

• Walter Camp Award :Rashaan Salaam – 1994
• Chuck Bednarik Award :Travis Hunter – 2024
• Dick Butkus Award :Alfred Williams – 1990 :Matt Russell – 1996
• Doak Walker Award :Rashaan Salaam – 1994
• Fred Biletnikoff Award :Travis Hunter – 2024
• Jim Thorpe Award :Deon Figures – 1992 :Chris Hudson – 1994
• John Mackey Award :Daniel Graham – 2001
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award :Shedeur Sanders – 2024
• Lott IMPACT Trophy :Travis Hunter – 2024
• Ray Guy Award :Mark Mariscal – 2002
• Paul Hornung Award :Travis Hunter - 2023, 2024
• William V. Campbell Trophy :Jim Hansen – 1992
• Academic All-American of the Year (football) :Jim Hansen – 1992 :Travis Hunter – 2024

Coach

• Paul "Bear" Bryant Award :1989 Bill McCartney
• Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award :2016 Mike MacIntyre
• Dodd Trophy as Coach of the Year :2016 Mike MacIntyre
• Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award :2016 Mike MacIntyre
• Home Depot Coach of the Year Award :2016 Mike MacIntyre
• Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award :2016 Mike MacIntyre
• Pac-12 Conference Football Coach of the Year :2016 Mike MacIntyre

College Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Colorado has one inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Cliff Branch – WR (1972–1988); HoF Class of 2022

All-Americans

The following is a list of Consensus All-Americans from CU as listed in NCAA record books.

• 1943 Robert Hall, Colorado (AP-2)
• 1953 Gary Knafelc, Colorado (AP-3)
• 1954 Frank Bernardi, Colorado (AP-2)
• 1956 John Bayuk, Colorado (INS-2; CP-3)
• 1960 Joe Romig, Colorado (WC)
• 1961 Joe Romig, Colorado (WC, TSN, FWAA)
• 1961 Jerry Hillebrand, Colorado (FWAA)
• 1967 Dick Anderson, Colorado (AP, NEA)
• 1968 Mike Montler, Colorado (AP, AFCA)
• 1969 Bobby Anderson, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, TSN)
• 1970 Pat Murphy, Colorado (WC)
• 1970 Don Popplewell, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, FWAA, WC, CP, FN)
• 1971 Herb Orvis, Colorado (WC, AFCA, TSN)
• 1971 Cliff Branch, Colorado (FN)
• 1972 Cullen Bryant, Colorado (UPI, NEA, AFCA, TSN, Time)
• 1972 Bud Magrum, Colorado (FWAA)
• 1973 Bo Matthews, Colorado (Time)
• 1973 J.V. Cain, Colorado (TSN, Time)
• 1975 Troy Archer, Colorado (Time)
• 1975 Pete Brock, Colorado (TSN, NEA, Time)
• 1975 Dave Logan, Colorado (TSN)
• 1975 Mark Koncar, Colorado (AP)
• 1976 Don Hasselbeck, Colorado (TSN)
• 1978 Matt Miller, Colorado (UPI)
• 1979 Mark Haynes, Colorado (AP)
• 1979 Stan Brock, Colorado (TSN)
• 1986 Barry Helton, Colorado (AP, UPI, TSN)
• 1988 Keith English, Colorado (AP)
• 1989 Tom Rouen, Colorado (AP, UPI, WC, FWAA)
• 1989 Kanavis McGhee, Colorado (WC)
• 1989 Alfred Williams, Colorado (UPI, AFCA, FWAA, FN)
• 1989 Darian Hagan, Colorado (TSN)
• 1989 Joe Garten, Colorado (AP, UPI, AFCA, FWAA, TSN)
• 1990 Alfred Williams, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
• 1990 Joe Garten, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
• 1990 Eric Bieniemy, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
• 1991 Joel Steed, Colorado (WC)
• 1991 Jay Leeuwenburg, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, AFCA, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
• 1992 Mitch Berger, Colorado (UPI)
• 1992 Deon Figures, Colorado (AP, UPI, NEA, WC, FWAA, SH, TSN, FN)
• 1992 Michael Westbrook, Colorado (NEA)
• 1994 Chris Hudson, Colorado (Associated Press, Walter Camp, FWAA-Writers, Scripps-Howard)
• 1994 Michael Westbrook, Colorado (Walter Camp, AFCA-Coaches, Sporting News)
• 1994 Rashaan Salaam, Colorado (Associated Press, Walter Camp, FWAA-Writers, AFCA-Coaches, Scripps-Howard, Sporting News, Football News)
• 1995 Bryan Stoltenberg, Colorado (UPI, Walter Camp, FN)
• 1995 Heath Irwin, Colorado (AP)
• 1996 Matt Russell, Colorado (AP, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, TSN)
• 1996 Chris Naeole, Colorado (AP, AFCA-Coaches, Walter Camp, FN)
• 1996 Rae Carruth, Colorado (TSN)
• 1999 Ben Kelly, Colorado (FN, CNNSI-KR)
• 2001 Roman Hollowell, Colorado (TSN, CNNSI-PR)
• 2001 Andre Gurode, Colorado (AP, TSN, PFW, CNNSI)
• 2001 Daniel Graham, Colorado (Walter Camp, AFCA-Coaches, FWAA, AP, TSN, PFW, FN)
• 2002 Mark Mariscal, Colorado (AP, AFCA-Coaches, Walter Camp, TSN, CNNSI, ESPN)
• 2002 Wayne Lucier, Colorado (TSN)
• 2002 Chris Brown, Colorado (AFCA-Coaches)
• 2004 John Torp, Colorado (ESPN)
• 2005 Mason Crosby, Colorado (Associated Press, FWAA-Writers, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College Football News, Rivals.com)
• 2006 Mason Crosby, Colorado (Walter Camp Foundation, Pro Football Weekly)
• 2007 Jordon Dizon, Colorado (Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, ESPN, College Football News, Rivals.com)
• 2010 Nate Solder, Colorado (AP, FWAA, TSN, WCFF, ESPN, PFW, SI)
• 2023 Travis Hunter, Colorado (AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, SI, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele)

Retired numbers

The following players have been honored by having their uniform numbers designated as retired numbers by the Buffaloes.

= Posthumously honored

In 2020, Colorado athletic director Rick George announced plans to re-issue uniform numbers 24, 67, and 11, with the support of the noted players (or their families). Uniform number 19 will remain unused for 19 years, after which it may be re-issued. In 2025 Shedeur Sanders' and Travis Hunter's numbers had been retired. Despite the controversy, they were drafted in the 2025 NFL draft as the 144th and 2nd pick respectively.

Future Big 12 opponents

On November 1, 2023, Colorado's Big 12 opponents from 2024 through 2027 were revealed.

Home Schedule

Away Schedule

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 19, 2023.

Others beyond 2031: vs. North Texas, Sept. 4, 2032; at North Texas, Sept. 3, 2033; vs. Colorado State, Sept. 17, 2033; at Colorado State, Sept. 16, 2034; vs. Colorado State, Sept. 19, 2037; at Colorado State, Sept. 11, 2038.

References

References

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2. "Winners Archive".
3. (August 2018). "2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records". National Collegiate Athletic Association.
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5. "1990 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings".
6. "The McMNC for 1990: Georgia Institute of Technology – rec.sport.football.college | Google Groups".
7. (2020-11-29). "CU Buffs become bowl eligible with win over San Diego State".
8. (2014-06-28). "Archived copy". CUBuffs.com.
9. (2012-12-10). "MacIntyre Named Head Football Coach At Colorado". CUBuffs.com.
10. (2018-11-18). "Colorado fires football coach Mike MacIntyre after six-game losing streak".
11. "Dorrell Dismissed As Head Football Coach at Colorado".
12. "Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders Named Head Football Coach at Colorado".
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14. (7 February 2013). "Colorado and Nebraska schedule 4-Game Football Series". FBSchedules.com.
15. (7 February 2013). "Nebraska Cornhuskers, Colorado Buffaloes to renew rivalry in 2018". ESPN.
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17. "Huskers and Colorado Agree to Four-Game Series". Huskers.com.
18. (7 February 2013). "Agreement reached on resuming Colorado-Nebraska rivalry". nbcsports.com.
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23. "Colorado vs Colorado St.". College Football Data Warehouse.
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26. "Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes football series history".
27. (December 12, 2024). "Winners Revealed for ESPN's 34th Annual The Home Depot College Football Awards". ESPN.
28. (November 28, 2024). "Shedeur Sanders wins the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® Presented by A. O. Smith". Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.
29. (December 9, 2024). "Colorado's Travis Hunter has been named winner of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy, presented by Allied Universal". The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.
30. (December 11, 2024). "Colorado's Travis Hunter Named 2024 Paul Hornung Award Winner". Louisville Sports Commission.
31. "1992 CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Team, University Division". College Sports Information Directors of America.
32. (January 28, 2025). "2024 Academic All-America Football Teams announced for all NCAA and NAIA divisions". College Sports Communicators.
33. {{College Football HoF
34. {{College Football HoF
35. {{College Football HoF
36. "Throwin' You A Bohn – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com.
37. "Alfred Williams Elected To College Football Hall Of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com.
38. "John Wooten Named To College Football Hall Of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com.
39. "Bill McCartney To Enter College Football Hall of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com.
40. (January 8, 2016). "Herb Orvis, former CU Buffs pass rusher, named to College Football Hall of Fame". MediaNews Group, Inc..
41. Plati, David. (February 5, 2020). "Retired Numbers To Circulate Back Into Use".
42. "Retired numbers – Colorado Athletics".
43. (April 14, 2025). "Buffs to Retire Travis Hunter's No. 12, Shedeur Sanders' No. 2 Jerseys Saturday". Colorado Buffaloes.
44. "2020 Football Roster".
45. "2021 Football Roster".
46. "2022 Football Roster".
47. "2023 Football Roster".
48. "Big 12 Football Matrix 2024-2027".
49. (December 19, 2023). "Buffs Add Five Games To Future Non-Conference Schedule". University of Colorado Athletics.