| Mode: | football |
| Year: | 1985 |
| Team: | Colorado Buffaloes |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Record: | 7 - 5 |
| Conf Record: | 4 - 3 |
| Head Coach: | Bill McCartney |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Off Coach: | Gerry DiNardo |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Scheme: | Wishbone |
| Def Coach: | Lou Tepper |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Mvp: | Dan McMillen (DE) |
| Captain: | Junior Ili |
| Captain2: | Barry Remington |
| Stadium: | Folsom Field |
| Bowl: | Freedom Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 17 - 20 vs. Washington |
The 1985 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Bill McCartney, the Buffaloes switched to a wishbone offense and finished the regular season at 7–4 (4–3 in Big 8, tied for third).[1] [2] [3] Home games were played on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.
Colorado, 1–10 the previous season, won five of its first six games,[1] [4] earned its first bowl invitation in nine years, and won the NCAA Most Improved Team Award. In a competitive Freedom Bowl in late December, CU fell to the favored Washington Huskies by three points in Anaheim; both teams finished at 7–5.[5] [6] [7]
See main article: 1985 Kansas Jayhawks football team.
Attendance: 25,000
Passing: COL Mark Hatcher 1/6, 11 yds; KAN Mike Norseth 22/41, 256 yds, INT
Rushing: COL Anthony Weatherspoon 16–65; KAN Harvey Fields 7–24
Receiving: COL Sam Smith 1–11; KAN Richard Estell 8–126