1986 Colorado Buffaloes football
Bluebonnet Bowl, L 9–21 vs. Baylor
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Record6–6 (6–1 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGerry DiNardo (3rd season)
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper (4th season)
Base defense3–4
Captains
Home stadiumFolsom Field
(Capacity: 51,463)
Seasons
← 1985
1987 →
1986 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Oklahoma $ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
Colorado 6 – 1 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
No. 5 Nebraska 5 – 2 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
Oklahoma State 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Iowa State 3 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Missouri 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Kansas State 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Kansas 0 – 7 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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,[1] 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.[2][3]

The Buffaloes were upset 23–7 in the opener by intrastate rival Colorado State,[4] but defeated Nebraska for the first time in nineteen years, and the first time in Boulder since 1960.[5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 6Colorado State*
KCNCL 7–2345,109
September 13at Oregon*
L 30–3226,155
September 20at Ohio State*
L 10–1388,404
September 27No. 10 Arizona*
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
RaycomL 21–2441,024
October 11at Missouri
RaycomW 17–1242,780
October 18Iowa Statedagger
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
W 31–341,215
October 25No. 3 Nebraska
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
W 20–1052,440
November 1at Oklahoma State
RaycomW 31–1436,900
November 8Kansas
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
W 17–1037,056
November 15No. 4 Oklahoma
  • Folsom Field
  • Boulder, Colorado
RaycomL 0–2852,707
November 22at Kansas State
W 49–314,700
December 31vs. No. 14 Baylor*
RaycomL 9–2140,470
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Source:[6]

Roster

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2010)
Source:[7]

Staff

HC: Bill McCartney

Ast: 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)

[6]

Game summaries

Nebraska

1 234Total
#3 Nebraska 0 073 10
• Colorado 7 3010 20
Scoring summary
1COLJeff Campbell 39-yard run (Dave DeLine kick)Colorado 7–0
2COLDave DeLine 57-yard field goalColorado 10–0
3NEBSteve Taylor 2-yard run (Klein kick)Colorado 10–7
4COLLance Carl 52-yard pass from O.C. Oliver (DeLine kick)Colorado 17–7
4NEBDale Klein 29-yard field goalColorado 17–10
4COLDave DeLine 36-yard field goalColorado 20–10

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.[5] "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." [8]

Oklahoma State

1 234Total
• Colorado 3 01414 31
Oklahoma St 0 1400 14
Scoring summary
1COLDeLine 47-yard field goalColorado 3–0
2OKSTDykes 17-yard pass from Gundy (O'Connell kick)Oklahoma St 7–3
2OKSTThomas 3-yard run (O'Connell kick)Oklahoma St 14–3
3COLOliver 23-yard pass from Hatcher (DeLine kick)Oklahoma St 14–10
3COLHatcher 1-yard run (DeLine kick)Colorado 17–14
4COLWeatherspoon recovered fumble in end zone (DeLine kick)Colorado 24–14
4COLSmith 2-yard run (DeLine kick)Colorado 31–14

References

  1. ^ "Arizona comeback foils Buffs, 24-21". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 28, 1986. p. 5B.
  2. ^ "Colorado 49, Kansas State 3". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 23, 1986. p. 7C.
  3. ^ "Baylor defense corrals Buffs in Bluebonnet". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. January 1, 1987. p. 1B.
  4. ^ "Bartalo shines as CSU surprises Colorado, 23-7". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. September 7, 1986. p. 3B.
  5. ^ a b "Buffs upset Nebraska, 20-10". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 26, 1986. p. 3B.
  6. ^ a b 2010 Colorado football information guide Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Starting lineups". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). September 13, 1986. p. 2B.
  8. ^ Mossman, John (October 26, 1986). "No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Nebraska get roughed up". Gainesville Sun. (Florida). Associated Press. p. 1F.
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