The 1990 Fiesta Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played on January 1, 1990, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. It featured the Colorado Buffaloes, champions of the Big Eight Conference, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, an independent program. The game concluded the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season.
Teams and Rankings
- Colorado Buffaloes: Entered the bowl with a 10–1 record, ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press (AP) and Coaches polls. Their sole loss during the regular season was to Missouri.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Entered with a 10–2 record, ranked No. 7 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the Coaches poll. Their two defeats were to Michigan and Miami (FL).
Game Summary
- Final Score: Colorado 21, Notre Dame 19.
- Scoring by Quarter:
- 1st Quarter: Colorado 7, Notre Dame 0
- 2nd Quarter: Colorado 0, Notre Dame 7
- 3rd Quarter: Colorado 7, Notre Dame 6
- 4th Quarter: Colorado 7, Notre Dame 6
Colorado's victory came on a successful 27-yard field goal by kicker David Browning with 39 seconds remaining, breaking a 19–19 tie. The game is notable for a controversial play in the third quarter when Colorado's quarterback, Darian Hagan, executed a 69-yard run that appeared to be a forward pass but was ruled a run, extending Colorado's lead.
Key Players
- Colorado: Darian Hagan (QB), Eric Bieniemy (RB), David Browning (K).
- Notre Dame: Tony Rice (QB), Raghib “Rocket” Ismail (WR), Reggie Ho (K).
Attendance and Broadcast
- Attendance: 73,761 spectators.
- Television: The game was broadcast nationally on NBC, with commentators Dick Enberg and Jimmy Snyder.
Significance
The 1990 Fiesta Bowl marked Colorado's first major bowl victory after completing an 11–1 season, contributing to their claim of a share of the national championship for the 1989 season, a title contested between Colorado, Notre Dame, and Michigan. The close finish and the controversial third‑quarter play have made the game a frequently referenced moment in college football history.