The 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split national championship and the ensuing controversy helped lead to the creation of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series. The national title was split between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Buffaloes (11–1–1) took the AP poll while the Yellow Jackets (11–0–1) took the UPI Coaches poll by one vote over Colorado, 847 to 846. During the season Colorado had a particularly controversial victory over Missouri in what would later be known as the "Fifth Down Game". Rule changes Approved reducing the width of the goal posts from 23 feet 9 inches to 18 feet 6 inches starting in 1991. Mandated visible 25-second clocks at each end zone. Allowed the defense to advance fumbles that occur beyond the line of scrimmage. Previously, fumbles could only be advanced if they were caught in the air. Conference standings Bowl games Orange Bowl: No. 1 Colorado 10, No. 5 Notre Dame 9 Cotton Bowl: No. 4 Miami (FL) 46, No. 3 Texas 3 Rose Bowl: No. 8 Washington 46, No. 17 Iowa 34 Sugar Bowl: No. 10 Tennessee 23, Virginia 22 Florida Citrus Bowl: No. 2 Georgia Tech 45, No. 19 Nebraska 21 Other Bowls: Fiesta Bowl: No. 18 Louisville 34, No. 25 Alabama 7 Gator Bowl: No. 12 Michigan 35, No. 15 Mississippi 3 Hall of Fame Bowl: No. 14 Clemson 30, No. 16 Illinois 0 John Hancock Bowl: No. 22 Michigan St. 17, No. 21 Southern California 16 Copper Bowl: California 17, Wyoming 15 Holiday Bowl: Texas A&M 65, No. 13 Brigham Young 14 Freedom Bowl: Colorado St. 32, Oregon 31 Peach Bowl: Auburn 27, Indiana 23 All-American Bowl: North Carolina St. 31, No. 23 Southern Mississippi 27 Blockbuster Bowl: No. 6 Florida St. 24, No. 7 Penn St. 17 Liberty Bowl: Air Force 23, No. 24 Ohio St. 11 Aloha Bowl: Syracuse 28, Arizona 0 Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech 34, Maryland 34 California Bowl: San Jose St. 48, Central Michigan 24 Final AP Poll Final UPI/Coaches Poll Georgia Tech Colorado Miami (FL) Florida State Washington Notre Dame Tennessee Michigan Clemson Penn State Texas Louisville Texas A&M Michigan State Virginia Iowa Brigham Young Nebraska Auburn San Jose State Syracuse USC Mississippi Illinois Virginia Tech Florida, Houston and Oklahoma were not eligible to be ranked in the coaches poll due to NCAA probation. Heisman