Colorado didn’t just survive Week 1 - it forced its way into the conversation.
The Buffaloes’ 14-13 win at Georgia Tech was enough to lift them into a surprising spot in the Big 12 power rankings after one week of the 2026 season, and the result says plenty about how chaotic the league looked right out of the gate. Colorado was one of 13 Big 12 teams to win in Week 1, but not every victory carried the same weight.
Some were expected. Others, like Colorado’s, came with a little more drama and a lot more attention.
The Buffs earned it the hard way in Atlanta. They played in a sold-out road environment at Bobby Dodd Stadium and came away with a walk-off finish that turned a narrow game into a statement.
Colorado’s defense did the heavy lifting, holding Georgia Tech without a touchdown and limiting the Yellow Jackets to 51 rushing yards. That was a sharp contrast from last year’s meeting, when Georgia Tech ran for 320 yards.
The offense, though, still left plenty to be desired. That’s part of why Colorado landed where it did in the rankings instead of soaring higher. Even so, when the moment demanded it, Julian Lewis led the Buffs on a go-ahead touchdown drive, and Boo Carter delivered the final blow by blocking a kick to seal the win.
At the top of the conference, Utah looked every bit the part in Week 1, crushing the Vandals behind Devon Dampier’s three-touchdown performance. BYU was just as sharp, with Bear Bachmeier also tossing three touchdowns in a complete showing.
Texas Tech got a blowout win over Abilene Christian, 33-10, and transfer linebacker Jamond Mathis flashed immediately with 2.5 sacks and six tackles. Kansas State leaned on its backfield in a big way, with its running backs piling up 377 all-purpose yards. Arizona State made a loud opening statement too, as Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley exploded for 387 yards and six touchdowns without an interception.
Houston’s win over Oregon State came with a late scare. The Cougars built enough cushion to survive, but after allowing 13 unanswered points into the fourth quarter, they watched the Beavers get within a touchdown before Houston finally put the game away with a sealing score.
UCF was another team that opened eyes. The Knights rolled Bethune-Cookman, 73-6, and did most of the damage on the ground, rushing for 360 yards. Louisville transfer Duke Watson led the charge with 110 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas showed real pop on offense in its win over Long Island, even if the opponent was an FCS team. Isaiah Marshall, stepping in for Jalon Daniels, threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns without a pick. Arizona also handled business against Northern Arizona, winning 35-7, though the Wildcats let off the gas early and still have more to prove before they climb much further.
Cincinnati’s 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri State came with a strong showing from Gi’Bran Payne, who ran for 106 yards, and JC French IV accounted for four total touchdowns. Iowa State got a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina, with Jaylen Raynor producing four total touchdowns in his debut, though the Cyclones did allow 142 receiving yards to the Chanticleers.
West Virginia survived a much tighter test than expected, edging Coastal Carolina 31-24 after entering the game as 17.5-point favorites according to DraftKings. Deuce Bailey gave the Mountaineers real trouble, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns and nearly pulling off the upset in Morgantown. The win counted, but the defensive issues stood out.
Baylor dropped a 17-16 neutral-site game to Auburn, and the offense never settled in. DJ Lagway’s two turnovers loomed large in a close loss, and his accuracy and ball security will have to improve if the Bears are going to move forward cleanly.
TCU also stumbled in a neutral-site loss, falling 15-10 to North Carolina. The Horned Frogs’ offense looked out of sync overseas, and Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig still has work to do after a game that leaned too heavily on the ground game.
Then there was Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys’ opener looked far too familiar. Their loss to Tulsa brought back the same concerns that dogged them in 2025.
The offense never got going, despite the attention on transfers from North Texas, and Drew Mestemaker didn’t meet the expectations attached to his debut. If Oklahoma State wants to avoid another last-place finish in the Big 12, there’s a long climb ahead.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Got Early Proof Two Newcomers Can Change Everything
Colorado got an immediate return on two of its most intriguing newcomers in the season opener at Georgia Tech, and the Big 12 took notice. Lamont Lester Jr. was named co-winner of Defensive Player of the Week after piling up three sacks in his Colorado debut, while Boo Carter shared Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making two of the games defining plays in the 14-13 win.
The early hardware is a reminder that Colorados roster makeover is not just about headlines, it is about impact. The defensive lines recognition as the leagues unit of the week only deepens that view, with the Buffaloes already seeing fresh pieces tilt a tight road game their way and hint at how quickly this defense can become a problem for opponents. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Defense Just Made That Georgia Tech Win Look Even Bigger
Colorados opening win at Georgia Tech already carried plenty of weight for a program trying to set a tone early, and the defense made sure it kept getting louder in the days that followed. The Buffaloes picked up three Big 12 weekly honors for their work on that night, with defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. earning co-Defensive Player of the Week and defensive back Boo Carter taking co-Special Teams Player of the Week, while the unit also was recognized as the conferences Defensive Line of the Week.
Lesters debut included three sacks, the kind of disruptive start that can quickly change how an opponent prepares for Colorado going forward. Carters impact was even more dramatic in the final moments, when he blocked a game-winning field goal as time expired, a play that helped turn a season opener into something the Buffaloes can point to for a while as evidence their defense can swing a game in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Toby Anene Could Change What Colorado's Pass Rush Becomes
Toby Anene is settling into Colorados rotation at defensive end at a time when the Buffaloes are still sorting out what their pass rush can become. The fifth-year defender has already been through Folsom Field once before, when he played there for North Dakota State in 2024, but this time the setting carries a different kind of weight as he works to carve out a bigger role in Boulder. His growth has been less about raw athleticism than about sharpening the details, especially play recognition and a better grasp of offensive schemes.
That development showed up in Colorados recent win over Georgia Tech, where Anene made a notable contribution and gave a glimpse of why he fits into this edge group. He has also benefited from the competition around him, crediting the depth at defensive end for pushing him forward. For a defense looking to define itself, Anene is one of the players who could help determine how disruptive the Buffaloes become off the edge. [Read more 🡒]