US EditionColorado and Georgia Tech Meet for the 1st Time on the Field Since Splitting the 1990 National Title
The 1990 title split arose from different polls naming Colorado and Georgia Tech champions, sparking a debate lasting over 35 years about the rightful national champion.
- Nearly 35 years ago, the Colorado Buffaloes and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets claimed a split title in the 1990 season, with Colorado leading the AP vote and Georgia Tech topping the UPI/Coaches poll.
- Because different selectors voted, the title was split: Colorado collected 39 of 60 first-place votes in the Associated Press Top 25, while Georgia Tech led the UPI/Coaches poll.
- A fifth-down error at Missouri gave Colorado an extra play for a key touchdown, and a clipping penalty negated Raghib Ismail's late punt return, preserving Colorado's 10-9 Orange Bowl win.
- The split crowns hastened changes toward on-field championships, as fan bases of Colorado Buffaloes and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defended their claims and postseason changes like BCS and CFP reduced voter-driven outcomes.
- Tom Osborne, Nebraska coach, admitted he voted Georgia Tech No. 1, a key piece in the 847-846 coaches' poll margin; Mike Pritchard urged players to grasp the game's historical weight.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Colorado, Georgia Tech set to clash - 35 years after split title
BOULDER, Colo. — Even through a rough start to the 1990 season and the highly debated "fifth-down" controversy, the Colorado Buffaloes stood one stop away from winning the Orange Bowl and a potential national title.
Shared 1990 title between CU Buffs, Georgia Tech still sparks debate
Needless to say, it was a long and celebratory night for Mike Pritchard. He wasn’t alone. Pritchard and his Colorado Buffaloes teammates awoke on the morning of Jan. 2, 1991, as the national champions of college football. It was a first for Colorado football, and a feat the Buffs toasted throughout the night in Miami following an Orange Bowl win against Notre Dame. Related Articles Buffs notes: Georgia Tech’s Haynes King to challen…
Will It Be Decided On The Field 35 Years Later - University of Colorado Athletics
Before the advent of the BCS and CFP championships, national champions were determined by human vote: a media collection of writers and broadcasters for the Associated Press, and Division I head coaches for United Press International.
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