Week one of the 2026 college football season begins tomorrow night at 8 PM EST on ESPN when the Colorado Buffaloes travel to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Buffaloes are looking to improve on a disappointing 3-9 season last year including losing its last five games. The Yellow Jackets went 9-4 and are coming off of a Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to BYU.
These two teams squared off in the season opener last year, with Georgia Tech prevailing 27-20. The Yellow Jackets ran for 320 yards in the game.
This year, Georgia Tech will have a new starting quarterback in Alberto Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner and the number one pick in the 2026 draft, Fernando Mendoza. Alberto played for the Indiana Hoosiers last season appearing in nine games. He went 18/24 for 286 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception. He also scored a touchdown on the ground.
Another transfer on offense is running back Justice Hayes. Hayes played for the Michigan Wolverines last year carrying the ball 121 times for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hayes got hurt during the year but still finished second on the team in rushing yards and was tied for first. Jordan Allen is the top returning wide receiver this year. He had 22 catches
for 304 yards.
Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key enters his third season as head coach at his alma mater. He’s 27-20. On defense, the Yellow Jackets have eight transfers on defense that have a combined 184 games of collegiate experience. Defensive End Jordan Walker (Rutgers) leads the transfers. He’s been named a captain this year. He had 12 tackles and a sack last year.
For Colorado, Kaidon Salter returns at quarterback this year. He threw for 1,414 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while splitting time as the starter. Running back Micah Welch also returns to the Buffaloes. Last year Welch had 384 yards on 96 carries with four touchdowns.
They will have to replace the production from WR Omarion Miller who transferred to Arizona State. Joseph Williams is their leading returning receiver with 37 receptions last year for 489 yards and four touchdowns. Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders, who’s returning to Atlanta where he was a star for the Falcons, enters his fourth year as the Buffaloes coach. He
is 16-21 but 43-27 overall.
The defense is looking to improve from last year where they gave up 425.7 yards a game which ranked 123 rd . They also gave up 30.5 points a game, which ranked 112th.
Prediction: Too much pressure right out of the gate for Alberto Mendoza to produce like his brother did. Salter won’t have to look over his shoulder and should be more relaxed. Colorado 28-21.
