Colorado Buffaloes are set to open their 2026 season in Atlanta, facing Georgia Tech in a much-anticipated rematch that pits head coach Deion Sanders back to the city where his professional career began with the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves.
A Reunion in Atlanta
The contest revives a rivalry that split a national championship in 1990, and it offers Sanders a chance to avenge a 27-20 defeat the Buffaloes suffered last year, a loss that saw Georgia Tech rack up 320 rushing yards.
At the heart of Colorado’s new approach is offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s Go-Go system, which blends shifting backfield alignments with a quarterback who can also run, a scheme that will feature running backs Richard Young and Danny Scudero in expanded roles.
Strategic Vision and Player Storylines
Quarterback Julian Lewis, who starred at Carrollton High School just outside Atlanta, will be playing in the city where he first made a name for himself, adding a personal storyline to the matchup.
Young and Scudero are expected to be pivotal in Marion’s offense, providing the dual-threat capabilities that the Go-Go scheme demands.
ESPN has positioned the contest as a marquee event, with SportsCenter broadcasting from Atlanta and Matt Barrie calling the 8 p.m. ET kickoff, underscoring the national attention that Sanders’ presence brings.
While Sanders acknowledges the city’s place in his own history, he insists his focus is solely on winning, framing the game as another step in his broader vision for the Buffaloes program.
Legacy and National Spotlight
The upcoming clash also revives memories of the 1990 split national championship between Colorado and Georgia Tech, a historical footnote that adds depth to the rivalry and fuels anticipation among fans across the country.