Colorado’s 1990 Title and the Fifth Down: Custom Buffaloes Jersey Ideas

Colorado has one national championship in football, and it came in 1990. That team went 11-1-1, won the Big Eight at 7-0, beat Notre Dame 10-9 in the Orange Bowl and finished No. 1 in the AP poll. It also won one of the most argued-about games in college football history. If you want a custom Colorado Buffaloes jersey with a story behind it, the 1990 season has plenty of material.

The Fifth Down game

Colorado opened Big Eight play against Missouri. With time running out, Charles Johnson scored the winning touchdown to give the Buffaloes a 33-31 win. The problem: Colorado had been given an extra down because of an officiating error, so the score came on fifth down. The result stood, and the game has been known as the Fifth Down game ever since.

Some Colorado fans are proud of it, and some would rather not bring it up. Either way, it is one of the first things rival fans mention when the 1990 title comes up.

The rest of the run

Colorado’s own football info guide recounts the key moments. Eric Bieniemy scored on fourth-and-goal against Stanford, ran 69 yards for a touchdown against Oklahoma, and scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns at Nebraska despite five fumbles. Darian Hagan led a late first-half touchdown drive against Oklahoma, and Greg Thomas blocked a field goal in that game. Bill McCartney was in his ninth season as head coach.

In the Orange Bowl, Colorado held on 10-9 against Notre Dame, with Hagan and Kanavis McGhee both injured during the game, to win the school’s first national title. The final AP poll gave Colorado 39 first-place votes.

Custom Colorado jersey ideas from 1990

• “90” as the number. The simplest nod to the title year.
• “5TH DOWN” on the nameplate. A playful pick for a fan with a sense of humor, if the name field allows numbers and letters together.
• “MCCARTNEY,” “BIENIEMY” or “HAGAN.” A surname from the title team for a fan who remembers that season.
• “10-9.” The Orange Bowl score, for a jersey that only a Buffs fan will fully read.

Black and gold are Colorado’s main colors, with silver and white as accents. Black is the classic home look, white is for road games, and gray or silver designs show up as alternates. The image above shows a white listing titled “Shedeur Sanders Jersey #2 Colorado Buffaloes Vapor Limited Football White.”

Where to build yours

The custom Colorado Buffaloes jersey collection is where you can add your own name and number. On the product page, check the character limit and whether the name field accepts digits or hyphens, since “5TH DOWN” and “10-9” need both. If you would rather start with a recent player, this site also has player categories for Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders and Dylan Edwards.

A football jersey runs long and roomy to fit over pads. Boulder gets cold by November, so leave room for a sweatshirt underneath if it will be worn at Folsom Field.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Colorado win the national championship?

In 1990. Colorado went 11-1-1, beat Notre Dame 10-9 in the Orange Bowl and finished No. 1 in the final AP poll under coach Bill McCartney.

What was the Fifth Down game?

Colorado’s 1990 Big Eight opener against Missouri. Charles Johnson scored the winning touchdown as time expired in a 33-31 win, but an officiating error had given Colorado an extra down, so the play came on fifth down.

What colors are on a custom Colorado Buffaloes jersey?

Black, gold, silver and white. Black is the usual home color, white the road color, and silver or gray appear on some alternates.