Colorado freshman quarterback Julian Lewis connected with tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter, securing a 14-13 win for the Buffaloes against Georgia Tech in their season opener on Thursday night. The victory marked Colorado's first 1-0 start since 2023.
Despite trailing for most of the second half, the Buffaloes maintained hope. Head coach Deion Sanders noted the team's unwavering belief, even as linemen expressed confidence to him on the sidelines. "I never doubted it," Sanders said.
Lewis navigated a challenging game, with six completions for 41 yards in the first half. However, he rallied in the final drives, orchestrating a 17-play, 61-yard drive that consumed over nine minutes before ending in a blocked field goal attempt by Georgia Tech's Kevin Roche Jr. Following a Georgia Tech field goal that gave them a 13-7 lead, Lewis led a crucial two-minute drill that culminated in the game-winning touchdown.
"I talked to him at halftime in front of the whole team… I told (Lewis) ‘Let’s go. Be that man. We believe in you. Let’s go.’ You know, I challenged him in front of the whole team," Sanders said. "He took advantage of the moment."
Lewis finished the game 14-of-27 for 124 yards and a touchdown. Colorado's first score came in the second quarter from running back Micah Welch on a 5-yard touchdown run, giving the Buffaloes a 7-0 lead. Georgia Tech responded quickly, with Rahkeem Smith returning a kick 100 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.
For Georgia Tech, quarterback Alberto Mendoza completed 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards. He experienced a scare in the second half but remained in the game. Mendoza was instrumental in Georgia Tech's final drive, completing a 42-yard pass that put the Yellow Jackets in field goal range. He was sacked three times for a loss of 22 yards.
Colorado's rushing attack showed promise, with Welch and Damian Henderson II splitting snaps. Welch recorded 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Henderson had 65 yards on 12 carries. Georgia Tech faced ball control issues, fumbling three times in the first half and losing one. The game was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 51,913 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.