| Year: | 1990 |
| Team: | Colorado Buffaloes |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Aprank: | 1 |
| Coachrank: | 2 |
| Record: | 11–1–1 |
| Conf Record: | 7–0 |
| Head Coach: | Bill McCartney |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Off Coach: | Gerry DiNardo (12 games) Gary Barnett (bowl game) |
| Off Scheme: | I-Bone option[1] |
| Def Coach: | Mike Hankwitz |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Folsom Field |
| Champion: | AP Poll national champion FWAA national champion NFF national champion Big Eight champion Orange Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Orange Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 10–9 vs. Notre Dame |
The 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado Boulder as a member of the Big Eight Conference during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 338 points while the defense allowed 160 points. Led by head coach Bill McCartney, Colorado defeated Notre Dame 10–9 in the 1991 Orange Bowl to conclude the season.
Despite the infamous Fifth Down Game controversy against a 4-7 Missouri Tigers football team, Colorado was selected national champions by AP, Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, FB News, Football Research, FW, Matthews, NFF, Sporting News, and USA/CNN, and co-champion by both FACT and NCF -all NCAA-designated major selectors.[2] Georgia Tech took the UPI Coaches poll title,[3] with both Washington and Miami receiving national titles from other selectors.
Georgia Tech finished the season undefeated (with its record only blemished by a tie), and subsequently split the national championship with Colorado.[4]
The victory in the Orange Bowl was Colorado's first bowl win in nineteen years.
See main article: 1990 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
See also: 1990 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Pigskin Classic.
Each team dominated with its offensive strength. Mike Pritchard ran for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns as Colorado outgained Tennessee 368-135 on the ground even with Eric Bieniemy sitting out due to a suspension. The Volunteers passed for 368 yards (to Colorado's 68 passing yards), and future NFL wide receivers Carl Pickens and Alvin Harper each had over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.[5]
See also: 1990 Stanford Cardinal football team.
See also: 1990 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.
See also: 1990 Texas Longhorns football team.
See also: 1990 Washington Huskies football team.
See main article: Fifth Down Game (1990).
See also: 1990 Missouri Tigers football team.
See also: 1990 Iowa State Cyclones football team.
See also: 1990 Kansas Jayhawks football team.
See also: 1990 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
See also: 1990 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and Colorado–Nebraska football rivalry.
See also: 1990 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.
See also: 1990 Kansas State Wildcats football team.
The Buffs scored early and often while totaling 634 yards of total offense (360 rushing).[13] [14]
See main article: 1991 Orange Bowl.
See also: 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Wide receiver | 1 | 13 | Atlanta Falcons | |
| Linebacker | 1 | 18 | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Running back | 2 | 39 | San Diego Chargers | |
| Linebacker | 2 | 55 | New York Giants | |
| Defensive back | 3 | 69 | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Mark Vander Poel | Tackle | 4 | 96 | Indianapolis Colts |
| Center | 6 | 164 | Green Bay Packers | |
| Tim James | Defensive back | 8 | 202 | New York Jets |