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One of Northwestern football's biggest name opponents kicked off its 2026-27 season on Thursday night and took advantage of the opportunity with a 14-13 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 

Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes entered Thursday with considerably less hype than in previous years now that big name stars Shedeur Sanders, Shilo Sanders, and Travis Hunter are in the NFL. 

The Buffaloes have gone from favorite status to the underdog yet again, a familiar position they found themselves in on Thursday night against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

The Jackets entered the game as 6.5-point favorites but were defeated by a tough-minded, opportunistic Buffaloes team that showed they can win ugly, something that hasn't been seen a whole lot during the Sanders era in Boulder. 

Yellow Jackets Stuffed by Buffaloes Defense

Colorado shut down the Yellow Jackets' running attack, led by former Alabama and Michigan transfer Justice Haynes, holding them to 51 yards on the night. 

Haynes, who came into college football as a five-star prospect and starred for the Wolverines before a season-ending injury against USC last season, was largely ineffective against the Buffaloes' defense. 

Haynes was held to just 3.4 yards per carry (19 rushes for 64 yards) on the night and did not catch a pass out of the backfield, which is usually a strong suit of his game. 

Georgia Tech QB Alberto Mendoza shined through the air against the Buffs' defense, however, completing 17-of-23 passes for 237 yards. 

The Buffaloes' defense held its own, while the offense gave Northwestern defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle plenty of teaching points ahead of their Sept. 19 matchup in Evanston, Ill. 

A blocked game-winning field goal attempt sealed the unexpected victory for Sanders' Buffaloes, which set off a celebration at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. 

🚨 COLORADO BLOCKS GEORGIA TECH'S FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT

BUFFS WIN 14-13 🐃🔥 pic.twitter.com/2ZFlTgNid4

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 4, 2026

Buffaloes Run Game Shines

The Buffaloes' rushing attack looks like a team strength based on Week 1 as running backs Damian Henderson, Micah Welch and JaQuail Smith combined for 165 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.

Each runner averaged over four yards per carry as the Buffaloes' offense showed its strength. 

Quarterback Julian Lewis was iffy in the passing game, completing 14-of-27 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. 

Lewis did not throw an interception as the Buffaloes won the turnover battle, protecting the football all night while recovering one Yellow Jackets fumble.  

Who Should Be Favored on Sept. 19?

The Buffaloes have a formula that works based on defense, running the football, and avoiding the big mistake, which should make for an exciting clash of styles on Sept. 19 in Evanston against the Northwestern Wildcats.

The Wildcats have the makings of a better passing game but their Caleb Komolafe-led running game will pose a serious threat to the Buffaloes' defense as well. 

At this juncture, the Wildcats look like a slightly better team, especially with an expected home field advantage. 

Sanders and the Buffaloes have the talent to make the game close, something the oddsmakers will take into account prior to the upcoming non-conference battle between the Big 12 and Big Ten opponents.  

Expect the Wildcats to be slight favorites leading up to the game, as long as they take care of business against South Dakota State on Saturday before their Week 2 bye leading into Sept. 19. 

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