Colorado gets a Thursday night stage at Georgia Tech during 2026 Labor Day weekend, and the Buffaloes walk into it with plenty of outside noise already circling around them.
A lot of that chatter has nothing to do with the matchup itself. Colorado has taken heat for its perceived lack of size, and a viral speech from strength and conditioning assistant coach Morgan Cote has only added fuel. With Bobby Dodd Stadium in play, that means the Buffaloes could spend part of the night dealing with signs and jabs as much as they do the Yellow Jackets.
But the real story is what Colorado shows between the lines. Deion Sanders has turned to his third offensive coordinator since arriving in 2023, and the arrival of Brennan Marion has created a fresh wave of buzz in Boulder. Marion brings an offense that has been explosive and creative everywhere he has coached, and Colorado fans are eager to see whether that same formula can translate here after what he did at UNLV and Sacramento State over the last three years.
One of the clearest changes should come in the backfield. Colorado is expected to use more sidecar running back looks and lean more heavily on its runners.
That could mean a true committee starts to take shape, with last season’s leading rusher Micah Welch still involved but now joined by Alabama transfer Richard Young, along with JaQuail Smith and Damian Henderson II, both of whom previously played for Marion at Sacramento State. DeKalon Taylor is another name to keep in mind as a speed threat after impressing Marion and Colorado during spring.
If the Buffaloes are going to make any of that matter, the offensive line has to hold up. Quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis and the rest of the offense won’t get much going without protection up front or some push in the run game. Colorado already appears headed for a rebuilt front, with five new starters likely in the mix.
There is talent there, though, even after Colorado and Sanders lost what was arguably their best lineman, tackle Jordan Seaton, to LSU. Center Demetrius Hunter arrives from Big 12 rival Houston, former Ohio State guard Jayvon McFadden is in the fold, and ex-Georgia tackle Bo Hughley should get a chance against an old in-state foe.
Whoever starts, the expectation is simple: set the tone. If the line struggles, the familiar questions about Colorado’s weakness up front will come right back.
On defense, Sanders has talked up cornerbacks Boo Carter and Cree Thomas, and both will draw plenty of eyes when they get on the field. Still, the newcomer who seems most likely to make a real early impact is linebacker Gideon Lampron.
Colorado’s staff has been high on Lampron’s intelligence and work habits, from Sanders to defensive coordinator Chris Marve. And this opener gives him a big chance to address one of Colorado’s persistent issues: stopping the run. Against Georgia Tech, Lampron gets the kind of stage that could quickly validate why Colorado wanted him in the first place.
In Other News...
Which Former Colorado Stars Survived NFL Cutdown Day
NFL cutdown day brought a familiar mix of celebration and anxiety for Colorado fans, but a handful of former Buffaloes made the good kind of news. LaJohntay Wester landed on the Baltimore Ravens 53-man roster, Jimmy Horn is on the Carolina Panthers team, and Chidobe Awuzie, Nate Landman and Williams Sherman also survived the league-wide trim as they head into the season with their new clubs.
Shedeur Sanders joined that group by making the Cleveland Browns roster, though his path in camp came with a different sort of spotlight. For Colorado followers, the bigger picture is encouraging: the program had multiple alumni earn roster spots across the league, a reminder that the Buffaloes NFL presence is still very much alive even if the next chapter for some of these players is only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Is Trying To Make Folsom Field Even Louder In 2026
Colorado is spending the run-up to the 2026 football season trying to turn Folsom Field into even more of a factor on Saturdays. Buffaloes athletics announced a new slate of in-game experiences aimed at keeping the crowd engaged from start to finish, including live music from Colorado bands throughout the game, a new in-game host in Gianna Girardi and an upgraded video board presentation.
It is all part of a broader push to sharpen the home-field edge and make the game-day environment feel bigger and louder for fans. For a program that has already leaned hard into atmosphere as part of its identity, the next step is figuring out how these changes actually land once the season arrives and the stands fill up. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado May Have Found A Camp Answer To Its Run Defense Problem
Fall camp has given Colorado a much clearer look at the interior of its defensive line, and Dylan Manuel has been one of the more encouraging developments. The Appalachian State transfer has worked his way into a starting role, where he has paired with Santana Hopper in the middle and given the Buffaloes a sturdier presence against the run.
For a defense that needed help holding up inside, Manuels early camp showing matters because it suggests Colorado may have found someone who can help steady that part of the front before the season starts. The Buffaloes still have games to play before anyone can know how it will translate, but having a lineman emerge this quickly gives the coaching staff at least one reason to feel better about the run defense heading into the fall. [Read more 🡒]