Colorado opened its season with a 14-13 win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and the Georgia score will be remembered for the way it was decided: a late touchdown from Julian Lewis to Charlie Williams, then a blocked field goal from Boo Carter on the final play.
It was the kind of season opener that never really let go of either team. Colorado trailed for all of the second half before finding a way in the final 42 seconds, while Georgia Tech reached field-goal range on the closing drive and still came away empty after Aidan Birr's 45-yard attempt was blocked.
For Deion Sanders, it was another reminder that close games are becoming a familiar part of the story. Colorado last started a season 1-0 in 2023, when it beat TCU 45-42 in Sanders' debut, and this win carried the same sense of drama, even if the final margin was far tighter.
Lewis delivered when Colorado needed it most
The decisive moment belonged to Julian Lewis. The freshman quarterback found Charlie Williams on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left, turning a one-point deficit into a one-point lead and shifting the pressure straight back onto Georgia Tech.
Sanders said he challenged Lewis at halftime in front of the whole team and told him to embrace the moment. “He took advantage of the moment,” Sanders said. That was the difference for Colorado: not a perfect night, but a poised finish from a young quarterback under pressure.
The game also showed why Colorado's backfield has become an early talking point. Micah Welch scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, and the team has two strong prospects in the backfield with Welch and Damian Henderson II splitting snaps.
Georgia Tech had chances, but the final drive was denied
Georgia Tech had its own momentum swings. After Welch's touchdown, Rahkeem Smith answered 14 seconds later with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the program's first kick return score since 2021. That play kept Georgia Tech in control for long stretches, and it looked as if the home side might still have the final say.
Instead, Georgia Tech's last drive only got as far as field-goal range after Alabama Mendoza hit Dalen Penson for a 42-yard gain. Aidan Birr lined up a 45-yard attempt, but Boo Carter blocked it to seal the result.
The final numbers underline how tight it was. Colorado finished 17-of-23 for 237 yards, while Georgia Tech went 14-of-27 for 124 yards. Lewis completed 6 passes for 41 yards before the late strike, and Colorado also had to handle a game in humid conditions in Atlanta while protecting the ball after three fumbles and one lost fumble.
For Colorado, the result is more than a clean start. It is a road win, a 1-0 record, and proof that Sanders' team can still find a way in the closing moments. For Georgia Tech, it is a missed chance after reaching the edge of winning position twice, only to see the game decided by the two plays that mattered most.
That is the shape of the Georgia score: one late touchdown, one blocked kick, and a season opener decided by the smallest of margins.
