Deion Sanders isn’t hiding the fact that Colorado has been circling this one.
The Buffaloes open the 2026 season in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, a rematch of last year’s opener, and Sanders made it clear Monday that he has plenty of respect for Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key. He called Key one of his “favorites” and described him as a “tough, hard-nosed, and detailed coach.” But when the conversation turned to what Colorado is facing this time around, Sanders didn’t stop there.
“Thank God that quarterback is gone,” Sanders said. “That kid refused to lose a year ago, and he was definitely a difference maker.”
He was talking about former Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King, who powered the Yellow Jackets past Colorado 27-20 last season. King finished that game with 143 passing yards, 156 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, and he sealed the win with a 45-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left.
King’s three seasons at Georgia Tech, all under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, helped turn him into one of the ACC’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Now he’s in the NFL after making the Carolina Panthers’ 53-man roster, while Faulkner has moved on to become Florida’s new offensive coordinator.
That leaves Georgia Tech with a new quarterback and a new play-caller entering Thursday’s matchup. Former NFL coach and Yellow Jackets alumnus George Godsey is now running the offense, and the quarterback taking the first snap will be Alberto Mendoza, the Indiana transfer and brother of 2025 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Alberto Mendoza spent last season backing up his brother during Indiana’s national championship run, but he still flashed the kind of mobility that can stress a defense. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards and added 190 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. One of his most eye-catching runs came against Maryland in Week 10, when he broke off a 53-yard burst.
Mendoza knows the job now is about more than talent. It’s about getting everyone on the same page in a new offense with a roster full of transfers.
“I have been taking it every day, trying to communicate; communication is key,” Mendoza said. “Especially in a new offense where there are so many new moving parts, there's a ton of new transfers and players, so I think having an open line of communication really helps me take command and the whole offense take command when we're on the field.”
Colorado, meanwhile, is trying to answer the same question on the other side of the ball: can a reworked defense slow down Georgia Tech this time?
New defensive coordinator Chris Marve believes the Buffs have added real help at linebacker through the transfer portal, and he singled out Gideon “ESPN” Lampron for praise during the Colorado Football Coaches Show with Mark Johnson.
“Hungy, smart, selfless. Bet on himself,” Marve said of Lampron.
“I've got a lot of respect for him. I'm excited to watch him play on Thursday.”
Marve also pointed to linebackers Liona Lefau and Tyler Martinez as important additions in a room that should give Colorado more experience and leadership. He said the Buffs will have to sort through plenty of uncertainty against Georgia Tech’s new-look offense.
“You've got more than a few things that you've got to prepare for defensively, so we're excited to see how they deploy,” Marve said. “It'll be a good challenge for us.”
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT Thursday, Sept. 3, on ESPN.
In Other News...
Colorado Defense May Have Found An Immediate Difference Maker
Colorados defense got an early jolt from a newcomer against Georgia Tech, and Lamont Lester Jr. was right in the middle of it. The transfer turned in a disruptive outing with three sacks, including a third-quarter takedown that snuffed out a drive and gave the Buffaloes a much-needed playmaker off the edge.
Lester had already hinted at the mindset behind his rise in a prior podcast interview, describing himself as relentless and focused on dominating while constantly improving. He pointed to the development he got from his position coach at Monmouth and stressed confidence and preparation as the foundation of his success, which makes his immediate impact in Boulder feel less like a surprise than the next step in a player who believes he is built for it. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Opener Got Extra Heat From An Unexpected Colorado Twist
Shedeur Sanders was back around Colorado football for the season opener at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and his presence added a familiar layer to a game already slowed by a weather delay. The former Buffaloes quarterback, now with the Cleveland Browns, has left a real mark on the program after setting school records and steering Colorado to a bowl game last season, so his return naturally drew attention as the Buffaloes settled in with new starting quarterback Julian Lewis.
Lewis had a rough opening stretch, with ball handling and passing issues showing up during the first three quarters while Colorado tried to find a rhythm. With Sanders watching from the stands, every snap seemed to carry a little extra weight, and the opener took on the feel of more than just a new season starting. For Colorado, it was a reminder of how quickly the quarterback spotlight can shift, and how much the old one still lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Escaped Georgia Tech But Buffs Fans Still Have One Big Debate
Colorados season opener had the kind of finish that can shape a fan bases mood for days. The Buffs edged Georgia Tech 14-13 in a tense game that came down to the final snap, with the offense having to answer in the closing minutes and the defense needing one last stand to keep the win from slipping away.
Julian Lewis helped steady the moment with the late touchdown drive, and the victory gave Colorado plenty to feel good about beyond the final score. Even so, the conversation around the program now has a familiar edge to it: the kind of debate that comes after a narrow escape, when one play can be praised, questioned, and replayed from every angle long after the crowd leaves the stadium. [Read more 🡒]