By John Meylor and Ethel Yagudayeva
On the back of a blockbuster season and some transformational changes for the team during the offseason, the Coach Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes host as underdogs against a hungry, rebuilt Georgia Tech Yellowjackets chasing their best season in nearly 30 years. For the kickoff game of CU’s 2025 Men’s College Football season, stay tuned for more updates.
[Q1 12:08] CU sets the tone immediately with a forced fumble against Georgia Tech’s veteran QB Haynes King [#10] on the second play recovered from CU ILB Martavious French [#37] from scrimmage. On the following possession, the Buffaloes struggled to run the ball up the middle against Georgia Tech’s rebuilt interior defensive line, but a 16 yard outside run from RB Micah Welch [#29] and a TD pass from transfer QB Kaidon Salter [#2] on a scramble to RB Dekalon Taylor [#20] gives CU an early lead an a huge burst of momentum. CU 7-0.
[Q1 7:04] CU PK Buck Buchanan [#43] kicks off with Jamal Haynes to 1st Down. His pass completion to WR Eric Rivers [#3]. GT fumbles on a high snap from C Harrison Moore [#53] and is recovered by Colorado DE Keaten Wade [#27]. The unsuccessful pass by QB Salter led to a 3 and out, ending with a 30 yard punt by P Damon Greaves [#35] with a fair catch by WR Eric Rivers [#3]. QB King makes forward progress for the 1st down with a complete pass to GT WR Bailey Stockton [#7]. Jamal Haynes completes the run with a GT penalty to CU Tagert Bardin [#32]. Georgia Tech however ends their drive with yet another turnover as QB Haynes throws an interception to Colorado CB D.J. McKinney [#8] in Colorado territory, more costly mistakes from the Yellow Jackets keeping them off the scoreboard. CU continues to lead 7-0.
[End of Q1] Despite more mobility shown from Colorado QB Salter, the offense looks paltry for a second straight drive as they get forced into another 3-and-out for a punt. On the subsequent drive from GT, a relentless running attack spearheaded by RB Jamal Haynes [#1] pushes Georgia Tech deep into Colorado’s side of the field. Poor tackling across the CU defense puts GT in great position heading into the second quarter. Colorado remains up 7-0.
[Q2 4:33] GTU isn’t able to fully capitalize on their positioning and momentum, opting for a 32 yard field foal from K Aidan Birr [#32]. CU’s subsequent possession gets a boost off the back of a pair of penalties from the GTU defense but the newly revamped offensive line from CU struggles to protect its QB and its rush, ultimately resulting in a Buffalo punt from midfield. A combination of a costly 3rd down penalty in the secondary and strong downfield blocking on back to back plays from the Georgia Tech offense puts the Yellow Jackets in the redzone off the back of 2 24 yard pass plays from QB King to WR Stockton and RB Malachi Hosley [#0]. A 4-yard rush from QB Haynes gets GTU in the endzone for the first time in the game. Georgia Tech takes the lead 10-7.
[End of Q2] K Birr to kickoff with 65 yards of air with QB Salter running to CU’s 1st down and an explosive 39 yd pass to WR Omarion Miller [#4]. A false start penalty to CU OG Kareem Harden [#55], after which a 2 minute timeout was called by CU, and then by GT. A long-awaited 42 yd field goal by PK Alejandro Mata [#16] sets CU up to a10 point tie with GT. Buchanan starts a strong 65 yd kickoff, but Haynes attempts an unsuccessful advance and pass. He picks back up with a dash to the 34 yd line for the 1st down. A timeout was called by GT again, but this time Birr scored a 43 yd field goal. The quarter ends with a 13-10 point advance for Georgia Tech, with Colorado to receive after Halftime.
[Q3 6:02] The Buffaloes and the Yellowjackets begin the second half by trading anemic drives of 4 and 6 plays respectively that both flame out to punts. On CU’s second offensive series of the half, QB Salter showcased his dual-threat abilities with a 21 yard pass to RB DeKalon Taylor [#20] followed shortly by a 13 yard rush deep in GTU’s field. Porous line play from CU compromises a chance at a touchdown, with them settling for a 29 yard field goal from K Mata, tying the game 13-13.
[End of Q3] Stakes are up with PK Buchanan’s 65 yd kickoff and QB King’s duet with TE Harpring all the way to the 1st down. Haynes extends the line to 38 yds, succeeded by Malachi all the way to the 17 yd line. King secures a 17 yd run for the touchdown with no resistance from CU, taking the score to 20-13 point advantage to Georgia Tech.
[Q4 8:04] Birr kicks off with Salter bringing the line to 41 yds for the 1st down. GT DL Jordan Van Den Berg [#99] has a minor injury, a small deterrent to the defense veteran. Salter makes progress to the 22 yd line with RB Welch and TE Atkins, but suffered an incomplete pass to RB Taylor. A major disappointment was an incomplete pass from Salter to Price, losing a perfect opportunity for a straight beeline to a touchdown. Salter embraces a second chance for a touchdown 7 yds away. This brings the score to 20 point tie just 8 minutes and 4 seconds before game end.
[Q4 2:51] Georgia Tech attempts a march down the field to take the lead, leading with a 27 yard catch and run for RB Haynes. Following back to back costly 3rd down penalties at midfield, they run dry and punt the ball to Colorado. With the chance to make their comeback a reality, Colorado flames out on a 5 play drive marred by incompletions, forcing them to punt the ball right back to GT. It’s high noon for this tight contest as the game remains tied heading into its final minutes.
[End of Q4] QB King leads a ferocious drive in the waning minutes of the game, with the Yellowjackets run game exposing CU’s ineffective attack on several consecutive running plays, culminating in a 45 yard run from King to put GT up by 7. With just a minute of game time remaining, The Buffalo offense postures for one final comeback but falls short of meeting the endzone in back to back hail mary attempts, concluding in a Georgia Tech Victory, 27-20.
[Postgame] Coach Sanders laments the energy of the team on both sides of the ball, complimenting Georgia Tech as the “more explosive, more decisive team.” Additionally, Sanders notes a disappointment in their defensive inability to match GTU’s physicality. GTU QB King had the most notable performance of the game beating out Colorado QB Salter in the duel of running quarterbacks with King logging 3 rushing touchdowns on 146 yards. Ultimately, CU’s inability to capitalize on early defensive takeaways and lack of aggression stopping the Yellowjackets’ run game is what lead to their demise.