Has Colorado ever won a national title? Closer look at Buffaloes' championship history

Yes, the Colorado Buffaloes have won a national title. The Buffaloes were crowned the AP National Champions in 1990 while being coached by Bill McCartney. That remains the Buffaloes' only title in their long and illustrious history.

Ahead of the 2024 college football season, let's take a trip down memory lane and see how the 1990 Buffaloes brought glory to Colorado.

The Colorado Buffaloes were crowned 1990 AP National Champions

Head coach Bill McCartney led the Buffaloes to the 1990 AP National Championship. The squad ended its national championship-winning season with an 11-1-1 record while facing the country's most challenging schedule. Due to their record, the Buffaloes were voted national champions by the Associated Press.

However, due to the complicated format in the NCAA Division I-A football at the time, the year ended with two national champions: the Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Buffs were crowned Associated Press champs, while the Yellow Jackets won the United Press International Coaches Poll.

In addition to their National Championship, the Buffaloes have won 26 conference championships. They've tasted victory across five different conferences, notably the Big Eight Conference, Big 12 Conference, Colorado Football Association, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and Mountain States Conference.

Can Colorado go all the way in 2024?

According to Sports Illustrated, the Buffaloes are one of the biggest long shots to win the 2024 CFP National Championship among popular programs.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Deion Sanders-coached Buffaloes have odds of +27000 to win this year's national championship. Hence, an individual can bet $10 and turn it into $2700 if the Buffaloes are crowned national champions in Coach Prime's second season at the helm.

The Buffaloes posted a 4-8 regular season record in 2023, so it's understandable why bookmakers are skeptical of their chances. However, with an expanded playoff bracket, there are significantly better chances of an unfancied team making the playoffs. Seeing how Coach Prime and Co. navigate the new collegiate former will be interesting.