1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team

1985 Colorado Buffaloes football
Freedom Bowl, L 17–20 vs. Washington
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Record7–5 (4–3 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGerry DiNardo (2nd season)
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorLou Tepper
(3rd season)
Base defense3–4
MVPDan McMillen (DE)
Captains
  • Junior Ili
  • Barry Remington
Home stadiumFolsom Field
Seasons
← 1984
1986 →
1985 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Oklahoma $ 7 0 0 11 1 0
No. 11 Nebraska 6 1 0 9 3 0
Oklahoma State 4 3 0 8 4 0
Colorado 4 3 0 7 5 0
Iowa State 3 4 0 5 6 0
Kansas 2 5 0 6 6 0
Kansas State 1 6 0 1 10 0
Missouri 1 6 0 1 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Bill McCartney, the Buffaloes switched to a wishbone offense and finished the regular season at 7–4 (4–3 in Big 8, tied for third).[1][2][3] Home games were played on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

Colorado, 1–10 the previous season, won five of its first six games,[1][4] earned its first bowl invitation in nine years, and won the NCAA Most Improved Team Award. In a competitive Freedom Bowl in late December, CU fell to the favored Washington Huskies by three points in Anaheim; both teams finished at 7–5.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b "On the run: Surprising Buffaloes stampeding thanks to new wishbone". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 24, 1985. p. 6B.
  2. ^ "Buffs take turn for clubbing K-State, 30-0". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 24, 1985. p. 4B.
  3. ^ "Big Eight (standings)". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 24, 1985. p. 9C.
  4. ^ "Colorado tramples Iowa State, 40-6". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. October 20, 1985. p. 4B.
  5. ^ "Today's bowl games: Freedom". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 30, 1985. p. 9C.
  6. ^ Penner, Mike (December 31, 1985). "UW holds on; Buffs don't". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). (Los Angeles Times). p. 1B.
  7. ^ "Strong defense preserves Huskies' Freedom". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. C1.