Five wild stats from Colorado football's Week 1 win over Georgia Tech

The Colorado Buffaloes opened their 2026 season with an impressive comeback win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Thursday evening. While the win was impressive, the way Deion Sanders' squad got the job done was even more notable.

Colorado ran the football and played solid enough defense to give them a chance late. The Buffs were the more physical team and showed that on their final offensive drive of the game, which went 8 plays for 75 yards. Running the football is clearly a priority under the offensive coordinator, Brennan Marion, and that identity was put into hyperdrive against Georgia Tech with 49 rush attempts.

With such a different-looking Colorado team than we have seen under Coach Prime and even in the past decade of Colorado football, there are several notes and stats worth highlighting.

Here are some of the most interesting and even historic notes from Colorado's season-opening win against Georgia Tech.

Colorado won with defense for the first time in 10 years

Thursday's game marked the fewest points Colorado has scored in a win since Oct. 22, 2026, when the Buffaloes won at Stanford 10-5. Additionally, under Sanders, Colorado was 0-11 when scoring fewer than 20 points and 3-18 when scoring fewer than 30 points. CU has almost exclusively relied on above-average offensive performances to win games. Thursday's win proved that is no longer the case.

We know Colorado's offense is capable of running up the score with the number of playmakers on the roster; add that to a hard-nosed defense, and anything can happen.

Colorado's line play took a complete 180

On the offensive side, Lewis was only pressured on 17.2% of his dropbacks compared to Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza being pressured on 29.6% of his dropbacks. In a nutshell, that stat highlights the success of both Colorado's offensive and defensive line. Getting to the quarterback and preventing your quarterback from getting hit are two trademarks of a successful football team.

First last-minute comeback win in how long?

Colorado has had close games and even comeback wins in recent years, but there is one thing that they have not done that the Buffs did Thursday evening.

That feat is a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute of the fourth quarter. Julian Lewis orchestrated the scoring drive that accomplished that feat for the first time since 2012.

Julian Lewis's continued an impressive streak

Julian Lewis' 110 passing attempts without an interception is the longest streak to begin a career in Colorado history. Lewis' ability to protect the ball is a big reason why Colorado was in position to win the game. Turnovers kill momentum and scoring for opponents, and through his first few college starts, he has been elite in that department.

Snapped a bad streak of losses

Colorado has not won an away game since Nov. 9, 2024, against Texas Tech, before Thursday night's win. The victory marked a streak of 7 consecutive losses away from Boulder.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Five wild stats from Colorado football's Week 1 win over Georgia Tech