Colorado Buffaloes football

The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference, and will rejoin the Big 12 beginning in the 2024 season. Before joining the Big 12, they were members of the Big Eight Conference. The CU football team has played at Folsom Field since 1924.[1] The Buffs all-time record is 716–520–36 (.577 winning percentage) as of the 2022 season. Colorado won the 1990 National Championship. The football program is 27th on the all-time win list and 40th in all-time winning percentage.

Colorado Buffaloes football
2023 Colorado Buffaloes football team
First season1890
Athletic directorRick George
Head coachDeion Sanders
1st season, 4–3 (.571)
StadiumFolsom Field
(capacity: 50,183[1])
Year built1924[1]
Field surfaceNatural Grass
LocationBoulder, Colorado
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferencePac-12
Past conferencesIndependent (1890–1892, 1905)
CFA (1893–1904, 1906–1908)
RMAC (1909–1937)
Skyline (1938–1947)
Big Eight (1948–1995)
Big 12 (1996–2010)
All-time record716–520–36 (.577)
Bowl record12–17 (.414)
Claimed national titles1 (1990)
Conference titles26
Division titles5 (4 Big 12 North)
(1 Pac-12 South)
RivalriesNebraska (rivalry)
Colorado State (rivalry)
Kansas State (rivalry)
Utah (rivalry)
Heisman winnersRashaan Salaam – 1994
Consensus All-Americans30 (5 unanimous)[2]
Current uniform
ColorsSilver, black, and gold[3]
     
Fight songFight CU
MascotRalphie
Marching bandGolden Buffalo Marching Band
WebsiteCUBuffs.com

History
See also: List of Colorado Buffaloes football seasons
Colorado's first Football Team in 1890.

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.

Conference affiliations

Championships

National championships

Colorado won one national championship in football for 1990.[4]: 120 [5]

Season Coach Selectors Record Bowl Result Final AP Final Coaches
1990Bill McCartneyAP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, USA/CNN11–1–1OrangeW 10–9No. 1No. 2
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, and had a more talented roster.[6] 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.[7]

Conference championships
Colorado lines up on offense in the 2005 Big 12 Championship against Texas

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

Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1894Colorado Football AssociationHarry Heller8–15–0
1895Fred Folsom5–13–0
18965–02–0
18977–12–0
19015–1–12–0
19025–14–0
1903Dave Cropp8–24–0
1909Rocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceFred Folsom6–03–0
19106–03–0
19116–04–0
19135–1–13–0–1
1923Myron E. Witham9–07–0
19248–1–15–0–1
1934Bill Saunders6–1–26–1
1935Bunny Oakes5–45–1
19378–17–0
1939Mountain States Conference5–35–1
1942James J. Yeager7–25–1
19435–22–0
1944Frank Potts6–22–0
1961Big Eight ConferenceSonny Grandelius9–27–0
1976†Bill Mallory8–45–2
1989Bill McCartney11–17–0
199011–1–17–0
1991†8–3–16–0–1
2001Big 12 ConferenceGary Barnett10–37–1

† Co-champions

Division championships
Year Division Coach Opponent CG result
2001†Big 12 NorthGary BarnettTexasW 39–37
2002OklahomaL 7–29
2004†OklahomaL 3–42
2005TexasL 3–70
2016Pac-12 SouthMike MacIntyreWashingtonL 10–41

† 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.[8] 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.[9] 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,[10] 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.[11]

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.[12] On December 3, Colorado announced Deion Sanders as Head Football Coach.[13]

Venues
Folsom Field

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.[14][15][16][17][18][19] 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 and then host CU again the next year to finish the series. Nebraska leads the series 49–21–2 through the 2023 season.[20]

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.[21]

Utah
Kickoff at the 1916 Utah vs. Colorado game
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.[22] At the time, it was the second-most played rivalry for both teams (Utah had played Utah State 62 times;[23] Colorado had played Colorado State 61 times[24]). 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.[25][26] Utah leads the series 34-32-3 through the 2022 season.[27]

Bowl games
Main article: List of Colorado Buffaloes bowl games

Colorado has participated in 29 bowl games, with a record of 12–17 (.414).

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result Attendance Network
1937Bunny OakesCottonRiceL 14–2835,000—
1956Dallas WardOrangeClemsonW 27–2172,552CBS
1961Sonny GrandeliusOrangeLSUL 7–2562,391ABC
1967Eddie CrowderBluebonnetMiami (FL)W 31–2130,156ABC
1969LibertyAlabamaW 47–3350,144ABC
1970LibertyTulaneL 3–1744,500ABC
1971Astro-BluebonnetHoustonW 29–1754,720ABC
1972GatorAuburnL 3–2471,114ABC
1975Bill MalloryAstro-BluebonnetTexasL 21–3852,728ABC
1976OrangeOhio StateL 10–2765,537NBC
1985Bill McCartneyFreedomWashingtonL 17–2030,961Lorimar
1986BluebonnetBaylorL 9–2140,470Raycom
1988FreedomBrigham YoungL 17–2035,941Raycom
1989OrangeNotre DameL 6–2181,191NBC
1990OrangeNotre DameW 10–977,062NBC
1991BlockbusterAlabamaL 25–3052,644CBS
1992FiestaSyracuseL 22–2670,224NBC
1993AlohaFresno StateW 41–3044,009ABC
1994FiestaNotre DameW 41–2473,968NBC
1995Rick NeuheiselCottonOregonW 38–658,214CBS
1996HolidayWashingtonW 33–2154,749ESPN
1998AlohaOregonW 51–4334,803ABC
1999Gary BarnettInsight.comBoston CollegeW 62–2835,762ESPN
2001FiestaOregonL 16–3874,118ABC
2002AlamoWisconsinL 28–31OT50,690ESPN
2004HoustonUTEPW 33–2827,235ESPN
2005Mike HankwitzChamps SportsClemsonL 10–1931,470ESPN
2007Dan HawkinsIndependenceAlabamaL 24–3047,043ESPN
2016Mike MacIntyreAlamoOklahoma StateL 8–3859,815ESPN
2020Karl DorrellAlamoTexasL 23–5510,822ESPN

Notable players
Cliff Branch, Hall of Fame WR
See also: Colorado Buffaloes football statistical leaders

Awards
Byron White
Eric Bieniemy (1987–1990), the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,940), touchdowns (42), and all-purpose yards (4,351)

Heisman Trophy:

Year Name Position Rank in
Heisman voting		 Points
1937Byron WhiteHB2nd264
1961Joe RomigOG/LB6th279
1969Bobby AndersonTB11th100
1971Charlie DavisTB16th28
1989Darian HaganQB5th242
1990Eric BieniemyTB3rd798
Darian HaganQB17th17
Mike PritchardWR50th2
1991Darian HaganQB20th12
1992Ronnie BlackmonCB30th4
1993Charles JohnsonWR15th24
Michael WestbrookWR61st1
1994Rashaan SalaamTB1st743
Kordell StewartQB13th16
2002Chris BrownTB8th48

Players

Coach
1989 Bill McCartney
2016 Mike MacIntyre
  • Dodd Trophy as Coach of the Year
2016 Mike MacIntyre
  • Associated Press Coach of the Year Award
2016 Mike MacIntyre
2016 Mike MacIntyre
  • FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award
2016 Mike MacIntyre
2016 Mike MacIntyre

College Football Hall of Fame
Name Induction Ref
Byron White1952[31]
Joe Romig1984[32]
Dick Anderson1993[33]
Bobby Anderson2006[34]
Alfred Williams2010[35]
John Wooten2012[36]
Bill McCartney2013[37]
Herb Orvis2016[38]

Pro Football Hall of Fame

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

All-Americans
Daniel Graham
Mason Crosby
Nate Solder

The following is a list of Consensus All-Americans from CU as listed in NCAA record books.[2]

Retired numbers
Main article: List of NCAA football retired numbers

The following players have been honored by having their uniform numbers designated as retired numbers by the Buffaloes.[39][40]

No. Player Position Career Year
11Bobby AndersonQB/RB1967–19691969
19†Rashaan SalaamRB1992–19942017
24Byron WhiteHB1935–19371937
67Joe RomigG1959–19611961
  • † = Posthumous 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).[39] Contemporary uniforms issued with those numbers will include a commemorative patch.[39] Nonetheless, no player has used any of those numbers since the announcement.[41][42][43][44] Uniform number 19 will remain unused for 19 years, after which it may be re-issued.[39]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 6, 2022.[45] This announcement was made before Colorado announced its 2024 return to the Big 12. Three of the teams on the Buffaloes' future schedule as announced in 2022, namely Houston, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State, are Big 12 members.

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
Aug. 31
North Dakota State		 Aug. 30
Georgia Tech		 Sept. 5
at Georgia Tech		 Sept. 4
Colgate		 Sept. 2
UMass		 Sept. 1
TBA		 Aug. 31
SMU		 Aug. 30
Missouri
Sept. 7
at Nebraska		 Sept. 6
at Houston		 Sept. 12
Houston		 Sept. 11
Northwestern		 Sept. 9
at Florida		 Sept. 8
Florida		 Sept. 7
at Missouri		 Sept. 6
at SMU
Sept. 14
at Colorado State		 Sept. 13
Wyoming		 Sept. 19
at Northwestern		 Sept. 18
Kansas State		 Sept. 16
at Kansas State		 Sept. 15
at Colorado State		 Sept. 14
Colorado State		 Sept. 13
TBA

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; at Oklahoma State, Sept. 13, 2036; vs. Oklahoma State, Sept. 12, 2037; vs. Colorado State, Sept. 19, 2037; at Colorado State, Sept. 11, 2038.

References
  1. "Folsom Field Home". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  2. "NCAA Football Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA Football Records. NCAA. 2009. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  3. University of Colorado at Boulder NIL Brand Guidelines (PDF). January 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  4. 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  5. "1990 National Champions". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  6. "1990 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings". Archived from the original on 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  7. "The McMNC for 1990: Georgia Institute of Technology – rec.sport.football.college | Google Groups". Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  8. "CU Buffs become bowl eligible with win over San Diego State". The Denver Post. 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) "All-Time Record" (PDF). CUBuffs.com. 2014-06-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  10. "MacIntyre Named Head Football Coach At Colorado". CUBuffs.com. 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  11. "Colorado fires football coach Mike MacIntyre after six-game losing streak". The Denver Post. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  12. "Dorrell Dismissed As Head Football Coach at Colorado". University of Colorado Athletics. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  13. "Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders Named Head Football Coach at Colorado". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  14. "Colorado Buffaloes renew football rivalry with Nebraska Cornhuskers". denverpost.com. 7 February 2013.
  15. "Colorado and Nebraska schedule 4-Game Football Series". FBSchedules.com. 7 February 2013.
  16. "Nebraska Cornhuskers, Colorado Buffaloes to renew rivalry in 2018". ESPN. 7 February 2013.
  17. "Colorado & Nebraska To Renew Football Rivalry". CUBuffs.com.
  18. "Huskers and Colorado Agree to Four-Game Series". Huskers.com.
  19. "Agreement reached on resuming Colorado-Nebraska rivalry". nbcsports.com. 7 February 2013.
  20. "Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers football series history". Winsipedia.
  21. "Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Colorado State Rams football series history". Winsipedia.
  22. "Colorado vs Utah". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2004-05-20. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  23. "Utah vs Utah St". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  24. "Colorado vs Colorado St". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  25. "Utah Opponents". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  26. "Colorado Opponents". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  27. "Winsipedia - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes football series history". Winsipedia.
  28. "NCAA Football Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA Football Records. NCAA. 2009. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  29. "NCAA Football Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA Football Records. NCAA. 2009. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  30. "NCAA Football Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA Football Records. NCAA. 2009. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  31. Byron White at the College Football Hall of Fame
  32. Joe Romig at the College Football Hall of Fame
  33. Dick Anderson at the College Football Hall of Fame
  34. "Throwin' You A Bohn – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  35. "Alfred Williams Elected To College Football Hall Of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  36. "John Wooten Named To College Football Hall Of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  37. "Bill McCartney To Enter College Football Hall of Fame – CUBuffs.com | University of Colorado Buffaloes Athletics". CUBuffs.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  38. "Herb Orvis, former CU Buffs pass rusher, named to College Football Hall of Fame". Denverpost.com. MediaNews Group, Inc. January 8, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  39. Plati, David (February 5, 2020). "Retired Numbers To Circulate Back Into Use". cubuffs.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  40. "Retired numbers – Colorado Athletics" (PDF). static.cubuffs.com.
  41. "2020 Football Roster". cubuffs.com.
  42. "2021 Football Roster". cubuffs.com.
  43. "2022 Football Roster". cubuffs.com.
  44. "2023 Football Roster". cubuffs.com.
  45. "Colorado Buffaloes Future Football Schedules". CUBuffs.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
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