Deion Sanders fires back at Colorado critics after stunning Georgia Tech upset

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Deion Sanders fires back at Colorado critics after stunning Georgia Tech upset originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Deion Sanders heard the talk all offseason. Colorado was too small. The Buffaloes lacked the size necessary to compete along the line of scrimmage. Sanders had assembled another roster filled with talented skill players, but the program supposedly did not have enough muscle where games are often decided.

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Colorado needed only one game to deliver a convincing response. The Buffaloes opened their 2026 season with a dramatic 14-13 road victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night, and Sanders made sure to address the criticism after watching his team control the trenches.

“We rushed for 183 yards, my God,” Sanders said during his postgame press conference. “They rushed for 51.

“I thought we were small.”

That final line was vintage Sanders. It was short, sarcastic and fully supported by what happened on the field.

Colorado did not merely survive against Georgia Tech. The Buffaloes beat the Yellow Jackets with the physical brand of football that critics questioned whether they could play.

Colorado delivers dramatic finish against Georgia Tech

Colorado’s revamped offense rushed for 183 yards in its first game under new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Georgia Tech managed only 51 rushing yards after accounting for sacks.

The Buffaloes recorded three sacks and eight tackles for loss while allowing quarterback Julian Lewis to be sacked only once.

Micah Welch rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries, while Sacramento State transfer Damian Henderson II added 65 yards on 12 attempts. Colorado was particularly imposing during a 17-play drive that stretched from the third quarter into the fourth. The Buffaloes ran the ball 16 times on the possession, even with Georgia Tech knowing exactly what was coming.

Colorado did not score on that drive after its field-goal attempt was blocked, but the physical message had already been delivered. Lewis eventually provided the decisive offensive play. The young quarterback connected with tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 37 seconds remaining, giving Colorado a 14-13 lead.

Georgia Tech responded with a 42-yard completion from Alberto Mendoza to Dalen Penson, setting up a potential game-winning 45-yard field goal on the final play. Colorado’s Boo Carter came flying around the edge and blocked Aidan Birr’s attempt, giving the Buffaloes a stunning season-opening victory.

Colorado gives Deion Sanders reason to believe

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The victory carried additional significance after Colorado endured a 3-9 season in 2025. It also allowed the Buffaloes to avenge their 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech in last year’s opener. Colorado still has issues to address. The Buffaloes surrendered a 100-yard kickoff return, had their own field goal blocked and finished with only 124 passing yards.

However, Sanders’ team displayed toughness, discipline and resilience in a difficult road environment. Those qualities were not consistently present during last season’s collapse. Colorado will return home to face Weber State in Week 2. The competition will get tougher from there, but Sanders and the Buffaloes have already demolished one of the loudest narratives surrounding their roster.

They did it by running directly through Georgia Tech.

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