Georgia Tech’s loss to Colorado in Week 1 left plenty for Yellow Jackets fans to chew on, but not every reaction should be a full-blown alarm bell. In fact, the first game under Jason Semore pointed to a defense that showed real growth, even if the offense spent most of the night searching for answers.
The linebackers stood out as one of the clearest bright spots. E.J.
Lightsey and Kyle Efford looked much better, with Efford piling up a team-high 13 tackles and Lightsey adding six. Efford was everywhere, and the pair gave Georgia Tech a sturdier middle of the defense than it had coming in.
That improvement showed up across the back end, too. The secondary held Colorado to just 124 passing yards and didn’t surrender any huge downfield damage.
Georgia Tech also kept the Buffs from producing a 50-yard receiver on Thursday night. The defensive line still has problems, especially inside, but the Jackets were active, closing fast and making plays.
Savion Riley and Tae Harris helped settle any doubts at safety by staying around the ball and making a lot of stops in coverage. If that level holds, Georgia Tech will stay competitive in a lot of games.
Another overreaction after the loss is the idea that Georgia Tech somehow folded. The Jackets had a real shot late, and Alberto Mendoza put them in position to finish it with a 42-yard throw and catch to Dalen Penson. They kept answering whenever Colorado landed a punch.
That was obvious right after Colorado’s first touchdown. Georgia Tech responded immediately with a 100-yard kickoff return from Rahkeem Smith, only the fifth such return in Georgia Tech history.
That kind of answer matters. A team that’s unraveling doesn’t keep punching back like that.
Next week will be a different challenge and the first chance for the Yellow Jackets to respond after a loss in 2026.
There’s also a reason to feel better about the receiver room than before kickoff. Penson and Jordan Allen both showed they can be real threats in the passing game.
Penson finished with three catches for 73 yards after converting to wide receiver this past summer from cornerback. Allen was even more productive, finishing with eight catches for 113 yards.
Allen grew into the game as it went on, and Mendoza kept leaning on him. Georgia Tech didn’t get much from the rest of the group, but those two showed enough to matter.
The next step is getting them involved earlier and letting the passing game build around them. For now, the offense still has issues, but the receiver play offered more confidence than concern.
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 🡒]