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Colorado stuns Georgia Tech: Buffaloes block walk-off FG attempt to secure season-opening victory

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Deion Sanders and Colorado picked up a statement win to open the 2026 college football season

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Deion Sanders’ fourth season at Colorado started with a bang on Thursday night when Colorado escaped with a thrilling 14-13 road win over Georgia Tech that was highlighted by a wild finishing sequence. Boo Carter blocked a game-winning, 45-yard field goal attempt from Yellow Jackets kicker Aidan Birr on the game’s final play, sending a hush through a sellout crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

Colorado scored a go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left when quarterback Julian Lewis hit tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard score. The connection between Lewis and Williams ended a nearly three-quarter scoring drought for the Buffaloes, who dominated Georgia Tech on the ground but struggled to convert that dominance into points.

In their first game under offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, Colorado outgained Georgia Tech 183-51 on the ground. But lackluster special teams play put the Buffaloes in a hole. Georgia Tech’s only touchdown of the night came on a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Rahkeem Smith early in the second quarter. The Buffaloes also had a potential go-ahead field goal attempt blocked in the fourth quarter.

But the game-ending blocked kick made up for a night of lackluster special teams from the Buffaloes, who avenged last year’s 27-20 season-opening loss against the Yellow Jackets.

Read on below for takeaways and highlights from Colorado’s season-opening win over Georgia Tech on Thursday.

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Smashmouth Buffaloes

Colorado ranked 104th nationally in rushing offense last season and dead last (133rd) in 2024 during a 9-4 season. If Thursday night was any indication, this year’s squad will be drastically different. Three different backs totaled 10 or more carries, and each of them ran the ball successfully behind an offensive line that rarely failed to generate a push. Micah Welch was the starter and finished with 58 yards on 13 carries. Damian Henderson II, who followed Marion from Sacramento State, totaled 65 yards on 12 carries.

During a 17-play drive spanning the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters, the Buffs ran the ball 16 times. Georgia Tech knew what was coming and couldn’t stop it. In the end, quarterback Julian Lewis made a clutch go-ahead touchdown pass in the final minute. But the story of the night for Colorado’s offense was its running game.

A new identity for Deion Sanders

Colorado’s passing game needs to get in rhythm, and Sanders may want to rethink his decision not to have a dedicated special teams coordinator after allowing a 100-yard kickoff return. But from a physicality standpoint, this appears to be the strongest team of Sanders’ four seasons at Colorado. The Buffaloes were the more physical team on both lines of scrimmage, which showed up in their decided rushing edge (183-51), three sacks and eight tackles for loss. Unlike the 2024 Colorado team that finished 9-4 behind a high-octane passing game and the two-way dominance of Heisman winner Travis Hunter, these Buffs are not finesse. Colorado was also more disciplined on Thursday, getting flagged just six times after being one of the most penalty-prone teams in the nation last season.

Kicking game letdown for Jackets

Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr finished as one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award last season, signifying his status as one of college football’s top kickers. But he missed a 35-yarder in the first half. Then, on the game’s final play, the Yellow Jackets’ kicking unit allowed Carter to break around the right side and knock down Birr’s game-winning attempt before it could ever take flight. In a game decided by one point, those two botched field goal opportunities will haunt a Georgia Tech team that has been strong on special teams under coach Brent Key.

Georgia Tech’s offensive line struggles

Making his first career start, Indiana transfer quarterback Alberto Mendoza played well for the Yellow Jackets. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards, including a pivotal 42-yard strike to Dalen Penson with under a minute remaining that positioned Georgia Tech to try for a game-winning field goal. But it was not a good night for the Jackets’ offensive line. After allowing just nine sacks all of last season while protecting mobile quarterback Haynes King, Georgia Tech surrendered three sacks against Colorado. Furthermore, the Yellow Jackets’ run game shriveled up after a strong opening series from Michigan transfer Justice Haynes. Even with sack yardage factored out, Georgia Tech totaled just 73 yards on 27 carries as Colorado piled up eight tackles for loss.

Colorado wins a thriller

Final: Colorado 14, Georgia Tech 13

Deion Sanders’ fourth season at Colorado started with a bang on Thursday night when Colorado escaped with a thrilling 14-13 road win over Georgia Tech that was highlighted by a wild finishing sequence. Boo Carter blocked a game-winning 45-yard field goal attempt from Yellow Jackets kicker Aidan Birr on the game’s final play, sending a hush through a sellout crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

Colorado scored a go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left when quarterback Julian Lewis hit tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard score. The connection between Lewis and Williams ended a nearly three quarter scoring drought for the Buffaloes, who dominated Georgia Tech on the ground but struggled to convert that dominance into points.

In their first game under offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, Colorado outgained Georgia Tech 183-51 on the ground. But lackluster special teams play and some unforced errors put the Buffaloes in a hole. Georgia Tech’s only touchdown of the night came on a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Rahkeem Smith early in the second quarter. The Buffaloes also had a potential go-ahead field goal attempt blocked in the fourth quarter.

But the game-ending blocked kick made up for a night of lackluster special teams from the Buffaloes, who avenged last year’s 27-20 season-opening loss against the Yellow Jackets.

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