At last, after an offseason of change, new players across both teams and a shuffling of coaching staffs, gameday is here in Atlanta.
The Colorado Buffaloes will be taking on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a Week 1 clash of familiar foes. At a sold-out Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, the Yellow Jackets will have home-field advantage for a 6 p.m. MT kickoff.
Although they played each other in the opener a year ago, both teams are extremely different. In 2025, Georgia Tech outlasted Colorado 27-20, setting each team on a different course for their years.
The Buffaloes would spiral into a 3-9 season, the worst under Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders' tenure. The Yellow Jackets, coached by Brent Key, would have their highest win total since 2016, going 9-4.
Just 12 months later, the Jackets may be in an eerily similar spot to where the Buffs were last fall. Fresh off a nine-win season and losing an NFL quarterback in Haynes King, GT has had to rebrand.
Reaching into the transfer portal, Key brought in 19 transfers and added two new coordinators to command his offense and defense. Sanders also found 43 new players and added two new coordinators for the Buffs.
A completely new matchup compared to last time, here’s how the team’s shake out:
Offensive Coordinators:
For the Yellow Jackets, George Godsey will be returning to his alma mater to coordinate the offense in light of the opening this offseason. Holding 15 seasons of NFL coaching experience, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens as a tight ends coach, it was the right time for Godsey to take the reins in Atlanta.
The Buffs will be led by former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion, who is in his first year calling plays for the Black and Gold. Bringing his “Go-Go” offense, Marion will look to establish the run as a first priority.
Defensive Coordinators:
GT will have defensive coordinator Jason Semore, who was previously at Southern Mississippi, on its side for Thursday’s matchup. Entering his 20th total year of coaching college football, he has experience that is waiting to be showcased on the Power 4 level.
For CU, Chris Marve will be getting the opportunity to coordinate a defense again after being out of coaching in 2025. Taking time to learn and reground himself, he will bring a 4-3 scheme to Boulder. Previously coaching at Virginia Tech, he has prior experience matching up against Key’s team.
Colorado Offense:
In the first edition of the Go-Go, the Buffs’ offense will be commanded by second-year quarterback Julian “Juju” Lewis. Having started only twice in his redshirt freshman year, Lewis will have to grow up fast with the lights and expectations fully on him.
Protecting the football will be a top priority in a hostile environment for the young gun slinger.
To make things easier for him, the Buffs are expected to rely heavily on the run game featuring backs Damian Henderson II and DeKalon Taylor. In 2025, Marion’s offense averaged 262 yards per game and featured two backs on the field often. That means trusting the offensive line up front and letting them pave the way.
With a twist on triple option in exotic formations, the Go-Go puts playmakers in positions to succeed. The dynamic run-pass options mean that receivers will be involved in the offense as well.
Wide receivers Danny Scudero, who led the nation with 1,297 yards in 2025, and DeAndre Moore Jr., who had 532 yards, will be top targets for Lewis in the offense. Expect their veteran presence to help Lewis settle in.
Tight end Zach Atkins is also a sneaky weapon for Marion in the pass game, which should be kept an eye on. With a brand new system and playing on the road, there are many questions for the unit to answer on the gridiron.
Georgia Tech Defense
Rebranded from a year ago, GT’s defense will have eight transfers within the two-deep rotation on Thursday night. As Semore tries to implement his scheme, he will rely on linebacker Kyle Efford to anchor the middle of his defense.
The Yellow Jackets’ leading tackler in 2025 is back for a fifth season and is a true do-it-all player. Look for Efford to set the physicality and keep the group together.
On the defensive line, former Buff Tawfiq Thomas will be making the start up front for GT. As a fifth-year player, he has had a summer of progression and is looking to plug the middle of Colorado’s offensive run plan. Playing against his former squad he also has extra motivation.
As both teams try to implement a physical mentality, the battle in the trenches will be essential. CU’s run game versus GT’s run defense will be a matchup to watch, much like it will be on the other side.
In the secondary, crafty corner Jaylen Mbakwe has been a standout during camp. Although he is inexperienced, GT is looking for a breakout season out of the third-year player. Mbakwe has the frame to be a shutdown player at 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds.
Georgia Tech Offense
Moving on from Haynes King, who went to the NFL, GT’s offense will be run by transfer quarterback Alberto Mendoza. Although he has yet to start a game, he received snaps in garbage time for Indiana last season and is ready to be the head man.
Much like the Buffs, expect GT to try and lean into the run game behind their two experienced backs. Transfer Justice Haynes had 857 yards for Michigan and has the kind of explosion to change the game. He will be paired up with Malachi Hosley, who had 697 yards for GT in 2025.
Both players will have to be controlled by CU to limit GT’s offensive game plan. The identity of the Yellow Jackets has always been built on physical football.
Jordan Allen is returning outside as the Yellow Jackets fifth best receiving option from 2025. He will be the number one target for Mendoza to throw the ball to in the passing game.
As Mendoza starts to get comfortable, he will have the range to push the ball downfield and attack CU’s secondary.
Colorado Defense
And the unit tasked with limiting GT’s offense will be Marve’s revamped defense. While the Buffs gave up 222.5 yards per game in 2025, they have vowed to learn from their mistakes.
Defensive tackle Santana Hopper, from Tulane, was a big addition in the middle for CU. He had 4.5 sacks on the inside and has playoff experience too. Also on the line, defensive end Toby Anene will be the Buffs strong side edge defender.
The line backing unit, coached by Marve, has been expressed by Coach Prime as CU’s best position group on the team. They will be the tone setters and command the defense for the Buffs.
Linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron was a headline signing this offseason, but will also have hard hitters in Liona Lefau and Tyler Martinez beside him. The discipline of this unit will determine if Colorado is able to stop the run. Like the mentioned before trench battle, their play will be important to watch.
In the secondary, Coach Prime has also praised the depth of this unit. At cornerback Tennessee Transfer Boo Carter brings SEC talent and the best athleticism on CU’s roster. Safety Randon Fontenette, from Vanderbilt is a certified play maker and looking to perform on a big stage.
The talking has been done, and the work has been put in for both squads. With kickoff just hours away, the 2026 season has begun, and questions will be answered on the gridiron.
Coaches Mentioned
