Georgia Tech’s 2026 home opener against Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes had all the ingredients for a huge night. Bobby Dodd Stadium sold out for the first time in 20 years, with nearly 52,000 fans expected for Thursday night’s matchup.
However, the hype quickly ran overboard, especially with Colorado struggling to rise to the moment early in the game.
Deion Sanders Called Out Over Colorado’s Close Shave Vs. Georgia Tech
Through the first quarter, neither Colorado nor Georgia Tech could break through on the scoreboard. Both teams reached the red zone, yet neither could finish the job.
Then, with 13:06 remaining in the first half, the game finally produced an opening.
A short 34-yard punt handed Colorado the ball at Georgia Tech’s 35-yard line. From there, Micah Welch took control and needed only four carries to cover all 35 yards. He finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, putting the Buffaloes ahead 7-0.
That advantage, however, barely lasted. Just 14 seconds after Welch’s touchdown, Georgia Tech’s Rahkeem Smith took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, the score stood at 7-7 with 12:52 left in the half.
With the Buffaloes failing to contain their rivals, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe called out Sanders’ Colorado for their early struggles.
“Can’t even lie,” he wrote on X. “It’s painful watching the Buffs 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️.”
Can’t even lie. It’s painful watching the Buffs. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) September 4, 2026
Reporters and analysts also joined Sharpe in calling out Sanders.
“This Colorado vs Georgia Tech game is gloriously sloppy Week 1 nonsense,” Pro Football Network’s Oliver Hodgkinson wrote on X.
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Denver Sports’ James Merilatt also pointed toward Colorado’s special teams issues.
Poorly coached teams have bad special teams. #Buffs
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) September 4, 2026
When play resumed, unlike Colorado, Georgia Tech found some rhythm.
The Yellow Jackets marched 92 yards across 12 plays before stalling inside Colorado’s 10-yard line. Still, Aidan Birr finished the possession with a 22-yard field goal, giving Georgia Tech a 10-7 advantage with 2:03 remaining in the half.
At halftime, Georgia Tech carried that 10-7 lead into the locker room after a messy opening 30 minutes. Both teams struggled with dropped passes, fumbles, and special-teams errors.
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However, only one of those fumbles ended up in the defense’s hands, keeping the game within reach for Colorado. Because of these sloppy plays, analyst Mat Smith took aim at the way Colorado handled its running back rotation.
“Prime lines up to go for it and runs…DEKALON TAYLOR? At the goal line? 3x? No idea what Johnnie Mack is doing with this rotation. Yeesh. Cost the Buffs on that 2nd drive. Really tough start for the new RB coach. Just a very poor job utilizing your personnel.”
Prime lines up to go for it and runs…DEKALON TAYLOR? At the goal line? 3x? No idea what Johnnie Mack is doing with this rotation. Yeesh. Cost the Buffs on that 2nd drive. Really tough start for the new RB coach. Just a very poor job utilizing your personnel.
— Mat Smith (@RealMatSmith) September 4, 2026
The third quarter was again scoreless. Colorado missed a major chance to level the contest with 7:35 remaining. Daniel Gerlach lined up for a 38-yard field goal, but Kevin Roche Jr. broke through the middle and blocked the attempt.
Georgia Tech then made Colorado pay for the missed opportunity. The Yellow Jackets used 13 plays to travel 68 yards while draining 5:55 from the clock. Birr ended the drive with a 29-yard field goal, stretching Georgia Tech’s lead to 13-7 with 1:40 left.
Still, Sanders’ team, already under immense pressure, finally delivered when it mattered most.
Julian Lewis led Colorado on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in just 1:01 (and with no timeouts). The freshman quarterback then found Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown, putting the Buffs ahead 14-13 with well under a minute remaining.
And with that play, Colorado escaped with a narrow win.
