A loss to #2 Texas A&M in the final game of the season meant that Texas could not claim an outright Southwest Conference title. Colorado had finished 3rd in the Big Eight Conference. This was Colorado's first bowl game under Mallory, but their fourth overall bowl appearance of the decade, and their first Bluebonnet Bowl since 1971. This was the 8th straight bowl appearance for Texas and its first Bluebonnet Bowl appearance since 1966.
Game summary
Colorado – Kunz 1 run (MacKenzie kick) 7–0 2:29 1Q
Colorado – Logan 4 pass from Williams (MacKenzie kick) 14–0 12:42 2Q
Texas – Jackson 21 pass from Marty Akins (Erxleben kick) 14–7 1:47 2Q
Colorado – Hasselbeck 25 pass from Williams (MacKenzie kick) 21–7 0:24 2Q
Texas – Walker 3 run from Akins pitch(kick blocked) 21–13 10:56 3Q
Texas – T. Campbell 25 blocked punt return (E. Campbell pass from Marty Akins) 21–21 8:37 3Q
Texas – Erxleben 55 FG 21–24 6:25 3Q
Texas – Jones 4 run from Akins pitch (Erxleben kick) 21–31 3:15 3Q
Texas – Jones 7 run from Akins pitch (Erxleben kick) 21–38 5:05 4Q
Royal retired the following season after posting a 5-5-1 record, but remained as the athletic director until 1980. Colorado went to the Orange Bowl that season, but lost. They did not win a bowl game until January 1991. Texas returned to the Bluebonnet Bowl three times, and Colorado returned once. The Longhorns defeated Pitt 32=27 in the last Bluebonnet Bowl in 1987.
Texas and Colorado became conference rivals with the formation of the Big 12 in 1996. They were together in the Big 12 until the Buffaloes departed for the Pac-12 in 2011.
