In a battle between two teams breaking in new coordinators on both sides of the ball, it was Colorado that returned home with a victory.
The margin of victory on the scoreboard was minute. The margin of victory in the trenches was much more decisive.
After preaching about playing violently with improved physicality throughout the preseason, the Buffaloes backed the talk with a rugged 14-13 victory at Georgia Tech in the season opener.
The offensive line, a consistent weak spot for CU during the previous three seasons under head coach Deion Sanders, paved the way for 183 rushing yards in coordinator Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense debut. That was the third-highest rushing total for CU since Sanders took over ahead of the 2023 season. Quarterback Julian Lewis was sacked just once for only a 1-yard loss, and that didn’t happen until the Buffs’ final drive of the game.
Defensively, new coordinator Chris Marve and the Buffs received three sacks from Monmouth transfer Lamont Lester Jr., and CU held the typically powerful Georgia Tech rushing attack to just 51 yards. Alberto Mendoza went 17-for-23 with 237 yards in his debut as the Yellow Jackets’ starting quarterback but, before a 42-yard completion during Tech’s last-gasp drive, Mendoza was kept in check.
“It says a lot about Marve, and who he is and what he is and how he is,” Sanders said. “And how he’s relatable to these young men and how they really want to fight and play for him. And how smart and intelligent he is playing situational football. We surrendered a few plays that we shouldn’t have. And we’ll get that fixed. What can I say? When you’re looking at the statistics, you gotta get on the plane happy with the outcome, but knowing you can improve on that.”
Twice as Gooden
Not only was Sanders a two-sport star in the NFL and MLB, but he also played on both sides of the ball in football. CU’s 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, perfected the two-way dynamic, but the Buffs might have a budding two-way star with a much different approach.
Second-year offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden started up front for a CU offense that recorded 183 rushing yards, and he also took rotations along the defensive front.
“Chauncey is an unbelievable athlete,” Sanders said. “Chauncey is a dawg out there, man. When you see some of his cut-ups of the game and what he did offensively, to them, you understand why I allowed him to play defense. And that was the idea. You’re not going to play defense unless you’re whoopin’ the guy in front of you. And he was. And when he got in there on defense, he did his job.”
No-Groza
Georgia Tech’s Aidan Barr was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza award as the nation’s top place-kicker last year, but he experienced a rough night in the 2026 opener. Birr went 25-for-29 on field goals last year, setting school records for made field goals and points by a kicker (120).
However, Birr missed a 35-yard field goal to cap Georgia Tech’s opening drive before having his potential winner blocked by Boo Carter on the game’s final play.
Notable
Lewis has thrown 110 passes so far in his career without an interception. Thatap the longest such streak in CU history to start a career and the 11th-longest interception-free streak in program history. … Punter Damon Greaves changed jersey numbers to No. 21 from his usual No. 35 at the encouragement of Sanders, who wore No. 21 when he played for the Atlanta Falcons. Greaves served as CU’s lone captain. … Georgia Tech held a pregame moment of silence for several former Yellow Jackets players who passed away during the offseason, including former CU quarterback Dominiq Ponder. Ponder, who died in a car crash in March, played at Georgia Tech before transferring to CU.
