Colorado Buffaloes Opener at Georgia Tech Moved to Thursday

The Buffs' 2026 season opener against the Yellow Jackets will now take place on September 3 instead of September 5.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Colorado Buffaloes' 2026 season opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets has been moved from Saturday, September 5 to Thursday, September 3. The game will be broadcast on ESPN from Bobby Dowd Stadium at Hyundai Field in Atlanta.

Why it matters

This schedule change gives the Buffaloes less time to prepare for their first game of the 2026 season, which will be a tough road matchup against a Georgia Tech team that beat them 27-20 in last year's season opener. Colorado is looking to bounce back after a 3-9 season, while Georgia Tech is entering a new era following the departure of several key offensive players.

The details

In last year's season opener, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Yellow Jackets to victory. Colorado coach Deion Sanders said his team was "much more physical" and "more aggressive" than the Buffs. This year, Colorado will be relying on redshirt freshman quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis and several high-profile transfer additions, while Georgia Tech has also brought in new talent to replace its departed offensive stars.

  • The Colorado Buffaloes' 2026 season opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will now take place on Thursday, September 3.
  • The game was previously scheduled for Saturday, September 5.

The players

Deion Sanders

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, who is looking to lead the team to its third bowl game since 2024 after a 3-9 season in 2025.

Brent Key

The head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, whose team went 9-4 (6-2 ACC) in 2025.

Julian "JuJu" Lewis

The redshirt freshman quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, who will be a key player in the team's 2026 season.

Haynes King

The former Georgia Tech quarterback who rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns in last year's win over Colorado.

Danny Scudero

A wide receiver transfer from San Jose State who is one of Deion Sanders' high-profile additions to the Colorado roster this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“They were much more physical than we were. They were much more aggressive at times. We made some plays that we should have capitalized off some of the plays we made... It's not like we were tricked, fooled or anything. I think we had success running the ball at times as well, but we missed a few plays that we should have hit.”

— Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes Head Coach (SI.com)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery Employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Buffaloes will look to avenge last year's loss to the Yellow Jackets when the two teams meet in the season opener on September 3.

The takeaway

This schedule change puts added pressure on the Colorado Buffaloes to be ready from the start of the 2026 season, as they face a tough road test against a Georgia Tech team that has had their number in recent years. The Buffs' success will hinge on the performance of their new-look roster, including redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis and several high-profile transfer additions.