By Darin 
November 4, 1989. The air in Boulder was electric, heavy with the weight of two undefeated seasons. The No. 2 Colorado Buffaloes (8-0) faced off against the No. 3 Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-0) in a legendary matchup that was more than just a battle for the Big 8 crown—it was a fight for national relevance. Nebraska rolled into Folsom Field sporting a dominant 17-game regular-season winning streak, built on its fierce power running game. But on this pivotal afternoon, it wasn’t the ground game or the passing attack that decided the outcome; it was the electrifying, game-breaking speed of a single return man.
The Duel of Unbeatens
The contest was a classic, hard-hitting Big 8 affair, tight throughout. However, the difference came down to hidden yardage and field position, expertly manufactured by Colorado’s special teams unit and return specialist Jeff Campbell. The Buffaloes’ offense struggled at times against the stout Cornhuskers defense, but Campbell provided the necessary sparks to ignite the scoreboard.
ColoradovsNebraska1989 05 Nov 1989, Sun Star-Herald (Scottsbluff, Nebraska) Newspapers.com
Campbell delivered not one, but two long punt returns that flipped the field and directly set up critical Colorado touchdowns. These moments of brilliance didn’t just gain yardage; they injected Folsom Field with adrenaline, breaking the Huskers’ defensive momentum and gifting the Buffaloes’ offense short fields against the powerful Nebraska squad.
The Final Stand and the Big 8 Title
The Buffaloes ultimately secured a thrilling 27-21 victory, but not without surviving one final, tense drive from the Cornhuskers. With the win, Colorado shattered Nebraska’s imposing 17-game regular-season winning streak and, more importantly, catapulted itself toward the Big 8 title.
This victory was the defining moment of the 1989 season for the Buffaloes, proving their mettle against their greatest rival and establishing them as a legitimate national contender. The strategic use of special teams—a lesson often forgotten in high-stakes matchups—was the verified key that unlocked the door to Colorado’s championship aspirations.