Colorado Buffaloes starting freshman quarterback, Julian Lewis, playing against Arizona State University on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 (Remi Krupinski/CU Independent).
ATLANTA – Prime Time was fading Thursday night.
Colorado (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) allowed a six-minute scoring drive late in the fourth quarter to Georgia Tech (0-1, 0-0 ACC) to make it a 13-7 game.
Colorado punted four of its last five drives, and although the score was close, Georgia Tech was in control. With 1:40 remaining on the clock, CU’s redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis stared down 75 yards to the end zone, with no timeouts in his pocket.
Then, the few thousand Colorado fans in Bobby Dodd Stadium witnessed magic they hadn’t seen in some time. Lewis and the Buffaloes executed an efficient minute-long touchdown drive to take the lead with 37 seconds left. The euphoria was short lived when Georgia Tech swiftly gained 42 yards on the first play of its drive, setting up in field goal range.
Yellow Jackets’ kicker Aidan Birr took his steps back, loading up for the 45-yard game-winning attempt. The snap, the hold and the kick ended up bouncing off the hands of CU’s Boo Carter, miraculously bearing a 14-13 win for Colorado.
“I never flinched,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said. “The young men played their butts off … We beat a really, really good team and a really, really good coaching staff. Our guys were resilient; I’m proud of them, I’m truly happy for them.”
Coach Prime delivered his third 1-0 start in four years. Just over a year ago, the Yellow Jackets came into Boulder and rushed for 320 yards en route to a 27-20 victory. On Thursday, Georgia Tech rushed for just 51.
CU’s defense had the best showing the program has seen in well over a year. The reworked unit, under new coordinator Chris Marve, didn’t give up a touchdown all game. It’s the second time in Sanders’ tenure the Buffs have done so.
On the other end of the sword, Colorado’s ground attack was persistent and effective. New offensive coordinator Brennan Marion brought in his “Go-Go” scheme, thought to adopt a fast pace with creative outlets downfield and on the ground. However, as the game progressed, Colorado’s best drives came off of slow, methodical pushes via handoffs.
A three-headed rushing attack from Damian Henderson II, Micah Welch and JaQuail Smith split 35 touches and ran for a combined 165 yards.
Up until the last play of the game, CU’s special teams were a disaster. On top of allowing a 105-yard kick return touchdown, the unit made various poor decisions and will need the most focus before next week’s game. With all of this being said, special teams ended up winning the game.
“We made some mistakes on special teams, which you can’t,” Sanders said. “It’s effort … That’s straight effort because you have the correct personnel … But they made it happen.”
Lewis played like a freshman quarterback making his first career start for most of the game. He was out of sync with his receivers up until the final drive, ending 14-for-27 with 124 yards. But through it all, Lewis captured his first-ever collegiate win as a starting QB. He’s also thrown his first 110 pass attempts without an interception, the longest streak to start a career in CU history.
Texas transfer DeAndre Moore Jr. led the Buffs in receiving with 37 yards. No wideout caught more than four passes, but Lewis distributed the ball to five different receivers throughout the game.
This win gives CU its first on the road since November 2024. The last time Colorado started 1-0, the team went on to win nine games and appear in a bowl game.
“This is a big win, period,” Sanders said. “This is a big win for these kids.”
The Buffs greet Weber State (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) for the first game at Folsom Field next weekend. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time and will stream on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@gmail.com
