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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/ThompsonCreekTiger on 2025-08-29 06:07:03+00:00.
Once heard a saying that “there are no coincidences, only convergences” and believe we’re getting 1 of those moments when Georgia Tech and Colorado take the field in Boulder to kick off what will be the 35th anniversary season for their 1990 squads. Squads who both stake a claim to being #1.
1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team - Wikipedia
Colorado, having spent decades as an afterthought in the Big 8 to traditional powers Nebraska and Oklahoma, would see their fortunes turn in the late ‘80s under late HOF coach Bill McCartney. The Buffaloes entered the 1990 season with national title aspirations following the 1989 season - which saw their 1st conference title since 1976 and being ranked #1 in the polls for the first time but ended in a loss in the Orange Bowl. After a 1-1-1 start, Colorado would rattle off 9 straight wins to climb back to #1 again entering the postseason. However, 1 of those wins was mired in controversy - the infamous “5th Down Game” at Missouri. A 2nd straight Big 8 title would send the Buffaloes back to the Orange Bowl and a rematch with Notre Dame, the team who spoiled Colorado’s perfect season and title hopes the year prior. In a closely played game, Colorado prevailed 10-9 in a game marred with another controversial call, as a potential punt return touchdown by the Irish’s Raghib Ismail with seconds left in the game was nullified by a clipping penalty. Despite the controversies, Colorado was named #1 in the final AP Poll to win their only national championship to date. The Buffaloes also were named national champions by the CNN/USA Today poll, FWAA, and NFF.
1990 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team - Wikipedia
Georgia Tech, which had a proud history, would see a return to glory after a couple decades of mediocrity following their departure from the SEC in the 1960s. Led by head coach Bobby Ross and coming off a 7-4 season in 1989, the Yellow Jackets started the year unranked but stormed out to a 6-0 start. A tie at North Carolina would be Tech’s only blemish of the year. The Yellow Jackets quickly rebounded to win their next 5 games (highlighted by a win at then-#1 Virginia) and win their 1st ACC title, clinching the coinciding berth to the Florida Citrus Bowl. Facing Big 8 runner-up Nebraska, Tech jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back en route to a 45-21 victory over the Cornhuskers to clinch their 1st unbeaten season since 1952. Despite being the nation’s lone unbeaten, Tech was frozen out by 4 of the 5 major polling organizations. However, the UPI Coaches Poll would see the Yellow Jackets edge out Colorado by a single point to lay claim to a share of the school’s 4th and final claimed national championship to date.
Controversy has swarmed for years regarding the Georgia Tech-Colorado selections. Those who side with Colorado point out the Buffaloes’ schedule: Colorado played the toughest schedule in 1990 according to the NCAA FBS Record Book. 7 of Colorado’s opponents were ranked in at least 1 of the final polls (Oklahoma was banned from the Coaches Poll due to being on probation) and faced 4 teams who won at least a share of their conference title (Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Washington). Those who side with Georgia Tech point to their unbeaten record, the 5th Down Game (noting Colorado should’ve lost), and outperforming Colorado against a common opponent in Nebraska (also of note, Tech defeated Clemson, who demolished the Illinois team that gave Colorado their only official loss). Earlier this week, former Nebraska coach Tom Osbourne (who for years was rumored to have played a factor in the Coaches Poll vote) revealed he voted Georgia Tech #1 over Colorado on his final ballot.
Either way, it’s fun to look back on how things used to be in the CFB world and play the hypotheticals of how things would’ve turned out if the BCS or the CFP existed in those years and the potential impacts. Hopefully we’ll see some nods to history during the broadcast that honor both these squads and what they accomplished all those years ago.