by D’Andre McKenzie   9/4/26

I made my way down to Atlanta for the opening weekend of the college football season, and the first game on my slate featured the Colorado Buffaloes against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

What initially looked like a slow and sloppy season opener eventually turned into one of the most dramatic games of Week 1. Colorado escaped Atlanta with a 14–13 victory after blocking a potential game-winning field goal as time expired.

The Buffaloes opened the season 1–0, while Georgia Tech fell to 0–1 with a difficult matchup against Tennessee looming next week.

There was already plenty of excitement surrounding the game because Colorado head coach Deion Sanders was returning to Atlanta, the city where he began his professional football career. The Falcons selected Sanders with the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, and he also spent several seasons playing baseball for the Atlanta Braves.

That history brought a strong sense of nostalgia to the weekend. Falcons fans, Braves fans and longtime supporters of Sanders were excited to see Prime return to the city.

I was excited too. Deion Sanders is a legend, and in my opinion, he deserves to have his own museum in Atlanta. That is a conversation for another day, though.

Beyond Sanders’ return, both teams entered the season with something to prove.

Colorado was coming off a difficult 3–9 campaign in 2025, while Georgia Tech was looking to build upon a successful 9–4 season. Both programs were also breaking in new starting quarterbacks.

Georgia Tech no longer had Haynes King leading its offense. Instead, the Yellow Jackets turned to Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Alberto arrived in Atlanta hoping to begin creating his own legacy and perhaps follow the championship path established by his older brother.

Colorado entered the season with Julian “JuJu” Lewis behind center. Lewis appeared in four games and made two starts as a freshman in 2025, but this marked the beginning of his first season as Colorado’s full-time starter.

Before the game, the confidence level among the two fan bases was noticeably different.

Most Georgia Tech fans I spoke with believed the Yellow Jackets had the game under control before it even started. Colorado still carries a stigma among some college football fans who believe the program is more hype than substance. Deion Sanders continues to attract criticism, and plenty of people still question whether he can build a consistent winner in Boulder.

Colorado fans showed up in impressive numbers, though, and many of them were confident the Buffaloes could pull off the upset. Some were more cautious than others, but the visiting fans certainly believed their team had a chance.

The weather quickly became another major storyline.

Temperatures climbed into the 90s, and the afternoon went from bright sunshine to a sudden, typhoon-like downpour before kickoff. The storm became so intense that the start of the game had to be delayed.

Once the rain stopped, the humidity rose like budding flowers in the springtime. Everyone inside Bobby Dodd Stadium was sweating through their eyeballs. I personally could not stop sweating for most of the night.

The conditions appeared to affect both teams. The first quarter ended scoreless, and neither offense established much of a rhythm early.

Georgia Tech eventually took a 10–7 lead into halftime. That score remained unchanged throughout the third quarter as both teams continued struggling to finish drives.

The Yellow Jackets produced one of the game’s biggest highlights on special teams when Rahkeem Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Outside of that explosive play, however, Georgia Tech’s offense struggled to run the football and consistently capitalize on its opportunities.

Everything changed during the final two minutes.

With approximately 1:40 remaining, Georgia Tech kicked a field goal to extend its lead to 13–7. The Yellow Jackets had taken considerable time off the clock, and Colorado now needed a touchdown to save the game.

It was officially time for JuJu Lewis and the Buffaloes to put up or shut up.

Colorado took possession and marched straight down the field. Lewis remained composed despite the pressure and eventually connected with tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown. It was only Williams’ second reception of the night, but it became the most important catch of the game.

After converting the extra point, Colorado held a 14–13 lead with just 37 seconds remaining.

Clutch.

Georgia Tech was not finished.

Mendoza quickly moved the Yellow Jackets back down the field, including a 42-yard completion to Dalen Penson that placed Georgia Tech within field goal range. After trailing for most of the night, Colorado appeared to be only seconds away from watching the victory disappear.

Georgia Tech lined up for a 45-yard field goal attempt as the final seconds ticked away.

The snap came down, the kick went up and Colorado cornerback Boo Carter came flying off the edge.

Blocked.

Carter timed his rush perfectly and got his hand on the football, securing the 14–13 victory for Colorado as time expired. He had come close to blocking a kick earlier in the game, but when the Buffaloes needed him most, he got the job done.

Carter arrived at Colorado after beginning his college career at Tennessee, where he earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2024. His talent was never in question, and in his first game for the Buffaloes, he delivered the defining play of the night.

Lewis finished the game with 124 passing yards and one touchdown. Mendoza completed 17 of his 23 passes for 237 yards, showing poise and potential in his Georgia Tech debut.

The most encouraging development for Colorado, however, might have been its rushing attack.

Seven Buffaloes recorded at least one rushing attempt as Colorado accumulated 183 yards on the ground. Damian Henderson II led the team with 62 yards, while Micah Welch added 58 yards and scored Colorado’s first touchdown.

That type of balanced production is unfamiliar territory for Colorado fans who have become accustomed to watching the Buffaloes rely heavily on the passing game. Colorado controlled the line of scrimmage and held Georgia Tech to only 51 rushing yards.

Now the question is whether the Buffaloes can continue developing this more physical and balanced style of play.

Colorado entered the game as an underdog, and plenty of people expected Georgia Tech to handle business at home. Instead, the Buffaloes walked into a sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium, matched Georgia Tech’s physicality and found a way to win when everything was on the line.

That is the beauty of college football. Predictions and preseason expectations only mean so much. Eventually, you have to put on the pads and play the game.

Colorado will return home to face Weber State in Boulder next week with an opportunity to improve to 2–0. Georgia Tech must regroup quickly before welcoming Tennessee to Atlanta for a major ACC versus SEC showdown.

This was easily one of the most exciting games of Week 1. The weather was unpredictable, the atmosphere was intense and the final two minutes provided enough drama for an entire season.

Most importantly for Colorado, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes once again proved that counting them out can be a dangerous decision.