Deion Sanders, known as Coach Prime, rallied his Colorado Buffaloes with a concise two-word message prior to their season opener against Georgia Tech: "I’m back." This statement proved prescient as Colorado secured a dramatic 14-13 road victory on Thursday, signaling a significant turnaround after a 3-9 record last season.
The Buffaloes' win was sealed in the final minute when freshman quarterback Julian Lewis connected with Charlie Williams for a touchdown. The victory was then clinched as Boo Carter blocked Georgia Tech’s potential game-winning field goal as time expired.
Colorado entered the 2026 season facing scrutiny regarding its physicality, a concern seemingly addressed in the season opener. Despite Georgia Tech’s potent rushing attack featuring Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley, Colorado’s defense limited the Yellow Jackets to just 51 rushing yards on 30 carries, averaging a mere 1.7 yards per attempt. The Buffaloes' offense, meanwhile, generated 183 rushing yards.
Damian Henderson led Colorado’s ground game with 65 yards on 12 carries, complemented by Micah Welch’s 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. JaQuail Smith added 42 rushing yards on 10 carries. The team’s defensive effort also saw quarterback Alberto Mendoza sacked three times for a loss of 22 yards.
Sanders expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, particularly their success in the trenches. "We rushed for 183, my God. They rushed for 51. I thought we were small?" Sanders remarked post-game, referencing the perceived size advantage of Georgia Tech. He also noted the atmosphere, suggesting Colorado's play contributed to what appeared to be a rare sellout crowd for Georgia Tech.
Despite entering the year unranked and not widely projected as a top contender in the Big 12, Sanders appears unfazed by external expectations. This opening victory already puts him two wins away from matching his previous season's win total.