Deion Sanders had plenty to say after Colorado opened its 2026 season with a dramatic win over Georgia Tech, and he made sure the critics heard it.
The Buffaloes escaped with a 14-13 victory when quarterback Julian Lewis connected with Charlie Williams on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left in regulation. Georgia Tech still had one last shot, lining up Aidan Birr for a 45-yard field goal, but Boo Carter got a hand on it to seal the win for Colorado.
Afterward, Sanders said he never doubted how it would end.
“I never flinched, man,” Sanders said postgame. “I told several people on the sideline, we’re gonna make it very, very interesting, but we’re gonna win this game.”
He also used the moment to push back on the noise around his team, especially the idea that Colorado was too small to handle a physical opponent. The Buffaloes answered that challenge by running for 183 yards and limiting Georgia Tech to 51 on the ground.
“We rushed for a buck 83? My God.
They rushed for 51? I thought we were small,” Sanders said.
“You talk about another team that’s also a physical team. To go out there and do this, when you’re talking about the run and we’re a small team - don’t know where that came from - but I’m certainly happy with the results.”
Colorado now turns to Weber State next Saturday, then Northwestern and Baylor in late September. The schedule gets a lot tougher in October, when the Buffaloes face Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State and Kansas State over a five-week stretch.
In Other News...
Colorado Needs To Figure Out Ernest Campbell Before This Becomes Bigger
Ernest Campbell barely factored into Colorados season opener against Georgia Tech, finishing with limited playing time and no catches as the Buffaloes worked through their first live look of the year. Even so, the receiver remains an intriguing piece of Colorados offense because of the speed he brought from Sacramento State and the familiarity he already has with the current offensive coordinator.
Colorado does not need to force Campbell into a starring role right away, but his skill set is the kind that can change how defenses line up if the staff finds the right spots for him. Whether that comes in situational packages or on special teams, his lack of involvement in the opener feels more like the start of a question than the end of one. [Read more 🡒]
Brennan Marion Just Gave Colorado Fans A Reason To Believe
Brennan Marions first game as Colorados offensive coordinator came with the kind of road test that can tell a staff a lot about itself. Facing Georgia Tech, the Buffaloes leaned into a physical, run-first plan and found enough balance to survive a tough opponent, with DeKalon Taylor giving the offense a needed spark and tight end Charlie Williams coming through with a go-ahead touchdown catch.
Marion said the challenge was matching the moment with the right strategy, and Colorados answer was to keep pressing with the run game and let the defense and special teams finish it off. Boo Carters late block on a field goal attempt sealed the win, leaving the impression that Colorado may have found a blueprint it can trust when games get messy and the margin gets thin. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has One Defensive Problem It Must Fix Fast
Georgia Techs season-opening loss to Colorado left a sour finish in front of the home crowd, but the bigger concern came from how the game unfolded after halftime. The Yellow Jackets defense had trouble controlling the middle of the line, and the Buffaloes took advantage by turning to a physical ground approach that started to tilt the game in their favor.
Colorado finished with 183 rushing yards in the second half, with Damian Henderson leading the way as the Buffaloes kept attacking inside. Georgia Techs coach pointed to the interior play of the defensive line as a problem that has to get corrected quickly, because if that weakness lingers, opponents are likely to keep probing it until the Yellow Jackets prove they can stop it. [Read more 🡒]