The Coach Mac Era at Colorado

Bill McCartney set a new standard during his time leading the CU football program — one that no Buffs head coach has been able to match since. Starting with a two-win season in 1982 and culminating with eight consecutive winning campaigns — a run that included a national title, Heisman Trophy winner and three AP Top 10 finishes — the Coach Mac Era remains the apex of Buffs football. His 13-year tenure is the longest of any head coach in program history, and his 93 wins are 16 clear of the next-closest challenger (Fred Folsom, 77). Here’s a year-by-year look at his time in Boulder:

Year

Overall

record

Conf.

record

AP postseason

Bowl game

Comment

1982

2-8-1

1-5-1

—

None

Coach Mac’s first win? A 12-0 victory at Washington State on Sept. 18, 1982.

1983

4-7

2-5

—

None

Buffs appear to gain momentum with wins over Kansas and Kansas State in final three games.

1984

1-10

1-6

—

None

Low point of Coach Mac Era features rugged schedule with Notre Dame and the rest from power conferences.

1985

7-5

4-3

—

Freedom Bowl-L

A 5-1 start, capped by 40-6 win at Iowa State, offers up first clue something is building in Boulder.

1986

6-6

6-1

—

Bluebonnet Bowl-L

Buffs’ 6-2 close to season includes program-changing upset of No. 3 Nebraska, second-place Big 8 finish.

1987

7-4

4-3

—

None

Season-ending 24-7 loss to Huskers in Boulder keeps Buffs from going bowling for third straight season.

1988

8-4

4-3

—

Freedom Bowl-L

A 24-21 victory at No. 19 Iowa is Coach Mac’s first road win over ranked team as CU’s head coach.

1989

11-1

7-0

Orange Bowl-L

First 11-win season in CU history ends with top-ranked Buffs’ 21-6 loss to Notre Dame in Orange Bowl.

1990

11-1-1

7-0

Orange Bowl-W

Buffs avenge Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame with dramatic 10-9 win over Irish that clinches national title.

1991

8-3-1

6-0-1

Blockbuster Bowl-L

Even though Buffs finish tied atop Big 8, a home tie with No. 9 Nebraska denies CU third straight Orange Bowl.

1992

9-2-1

5-1-1

Fiesta Bowl-L

CU is ranked as high as No. 8 before 52-7 loss to Huskers in Lincoln ends Big 8 championship bid.

1993

8-3-1

5-1-1

Aloha Bowl-W

Buffs play six ranked teams and beat three of them, including 27-10 victory at No. 9 Oklahoma.

1994

11-1

6-1

Fiesta Bowl-W

Rashaan Salaam wins Heisman; CU tops Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, Notre Dame in Mac’s final year.