It has been just over 30 years since the 1990 Colorado Buffaloes beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl and secured the program’s lone national championship.
Head coach Bill McCartney led a star-studded team that included CU greats such as Eric Bieniemy, Darian Hagan, Kanavis McGhee, Alfred Williams and several other legends. Colorado finished the 1990 season 11-1-1 and was ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll.
In these current trying times of Buffs football, we thought it would be nice to revisit that national championship-winning team. Take a look back at the greatest season in Colorado football history.
Bill McCartney
University of Colorado coach Bill McCartney discusses strategy with his team during practice in Irvine, Calif.,…
University of Colorado coach Bill McCartney discusses strategy with his team during practice in Irvine, Calif., Aug. 25, 1990. The Buffaloes will face the University of Tennessee in the Disneyland Pigskin Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
Eric Bieniemy
29 Sep 1990: Running back Eric Bieniemy of the Colorado Buffaloes returns a kickoff during a…
29 Sep 1990: Running back Eric Bieniemy of the Colorado Buffaloes returns a kickoff during a game against the Washington Huskies at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado won the game 20-14. (Tim DeFrisco / Getty Images)
Eric Bieniemy
29 Sep 1990: Running back Eric Bieniemy of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during…
29 Sep 1990: Running back Eric Bieniemy of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Washington Huskies at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado won the game 20-14.
Rico Smith
29 Sep 1990: Rico Smith of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game…
29 Sep 1990: Rico Smith of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Washington Huskies at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado won the game 20-14.
Tom Roven
13 Oct 1990: Punter Tom Rouen of the Colorado Buffaloes kicks the ball during a game…
13 Oct 1990: Punter Tom Rouen of the Colorado Buffaloes kicks the ball during a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado won the game 28-12.
ERIC BIENIEMY COLORADO
27 Oct 1990: UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO RUNNING BACK ERIC BIENIEMY #1 IS TACKLED BY AN UNIDENTIFIED…
27 Oct 1990: UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO RUNNING BACK ERIC BIENIEMY #1 IS TACKLED BY AN UNIDENTIFIED OKLAHOMA DEFENSEMAN DURING THE BUFFALOES 32-23 WIN AT FOLSOM STADIUM IN BOULDER, COLORADO.
Colorado Buffaloes
A cheerleader for the Colorado Buffaloes holds up a sign during a game at Folsom Field…
A cheerleader for the Colorado Buffaloes holds up a sign during a game at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.
James Hill
27 Oct 1990: Running back James Hill of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during…
27 Oct 1990: Running back James Hill of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado won the game 32-23.
Charles Johnson
Charles Johnson of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Notre…
Charles Johnson of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Colorado won the game 10-9.
Darian Hagan
Quarterback Darian Hagan of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the…
Quarterback Darian Hagan of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Colorado won the game 10-9.
Darian Hagan
Quarterback Darian Hagan of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the…
Quarterback Darian Hagan of the Colorado Buffaloes runs down the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Colorado won the game 10-9.
Orange Bowl 1990
Colorado Buffaloes James Hill (33) and David Arterberry (44) hug after they defeated Notre Dame, 10-9…
Colorado Buffaloes James Hill (33) and David Arterberry (44) hug after they defeated Notre Dame, 10-9 in the 57th annual Orange Bowl Classic at the Orange Bowl in Miami Tuesday night, Jan, 1 1991.
Orange Bowl 1991
Colorado tailback Eric Bieniemy, left, meets with Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz in the Notre Dame…
Colorado tailback Eric Bieniemy, left, meets with Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz in the Notre Dame lockerroom after the Buffaloes defeated the Fighting Irish, 10-9 in the 57th annual Orange Bowl Classic, Tuesday night, Jan. 1, 1991at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Bieniemy scored Colorado's only touchdown.
