Deion Sanders is an Atlanta sports legend, but he will try to break some hearts in the city this weekend as he leads Colorado into a tough non-conference matchup against Georgia Tech. After losing their offensive coordinator and projected starting quarterback to Florida, the Yellow Jackets will have a revamped offense. The Buffaloes will try to wash the taste of a 3-9 season out of their mouths, and kicking off the 2026 season with a road win over a Power Four opponent would be a good start in that respect.
If Colorado gets off to another slow start, the pressure will mount on Sanders. On the other side, Georgia Tech is looking to build upon its nine-win season in 2025. Turnover on the field and the sideline alike could make that difficult.
If the Yellow Jackets hit on some of their key transfers -- particularly on offense -- it could be another successful season under Brent Key. Georgia Tech kicked off last season with a 27-21 win over Colorado, but neither team looks the way it did at this time last year. Perhaps the biggest change on each side comes behind center.
Sophomore Julian Lewis, a former four-star prospect, will start for Colorado. Alberto Mendoza, the brother of 2026 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando, transferred down from Indiana and gets the nod for Georgia Tech. Either Colorado can get a little revenge and a much-needed quality win, or Georgia Tech will score a critical victory before another challenging non-conference game against Tennessee in Week 2.
Throw out the 2025 matchup: If you're attempting to glean anything from the 2025 matchup between these teams, I wish you the best of luck. All four coordinators are new, as are the two quarterbacks. The Buffaloes and Yellow Jackets both dipped into the portal to add key contributors at the skill positions.
Georgia Tech signed former Michigan standout running back Justice Haynes, and Colorado landed Danny Scudero, who led the country with 1,297 yards at Sacramento State. Defensively, there is more familiarity for the Yellow Jackets with five starters returning, but the Buffaloes bring back just one starter on that side of the ball. QBs looking to seize the moment: Lewis was a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, but he underwhelmed in limited action as a freshman last fall.
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