Colorado’s 2026 Season Opener at Georgia Tech Moved to Thursday Night Spotlight
The Colorado Buffaloes are kicking off their 2026 football season under the Thursday night lights. Their opener against Georgia Tech in Atlanta has been moved up to Thursday, Sept. 3, with kickoff time still to be announced. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN, putting Coach Prime and the Buffs front and center to start the college football weekend.
This marks the third straight season that Colorado’s opener won’t be on a traditional Saturday - and the 12th time in the last 14 years that the Buffs have opened their season on a non-Saturday date. It’s become a bit of a trend, and one that signals the program’s growing visibility on the national stage.
This matchup is the back end of a home-and-home series between Colorado and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets took the first round last season in Boulder, edging out the Buffs 27-20 at Folsom Field.
That game was a hard-fought battle, and you can bet Colorado has had this rematch circled ever since. Now they’ll head into Atlanta looking to even the series at 1-1.
And speaking of Atlanta - this will be Colorado’s first-ever game in the city, and just their second appearance in the state of Georgia. The last time the Buffs played in the Peach State was back in 2006, when they visited the University of Georgia.
But there’s another layer here, and it’s a personal one for head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. Atlanta was where Sanders became a household name, starring for both the Falcons (1989-93) and the Braves (1991-94).
It was in Atlanta that he made sports history on October 11, 1992, becoming the only athlete ever to play in an NFL and MLB game on the same day. So when the Buffs take the field at Georgia Tech, it won’t just be a road game - it’ll be a homecoming of sorts for their head coach.
After the trip to Atlanta, Colorado returns to Boulder for its home opener on Sept. 12 against Weber State, the first of six home games on the 2026 slate. The Big 12 schedule will bring plenty of action to Folsom Field, with Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas State, Houston, and UCF all set to visit. That’s a strong mix of traditional rivals and rising programs - and a chance for the Buffs to make a serious statement in their second year back in the Big 12.
Folsom Field has long been one of the most unique atmospheres in college football, and with Coach Prime leading the charge, expect the energy in Boulder to reach another level. From the Buff Walk and the Golden Buffalo Marching Band’s entrance through Balch Fieldhouse to the iconic running of Ralphie, gameday in Boulder is more than a football game - it’s a full-on experience.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a big one. And with a primetime opener in a city that helped shape their head coach’s legendary career, the Buffaloes are stepping onto a national stage once again - ready to show they belong.