The Colorado Buffaloes open their 2026 season Thursday night with a road test against Georgia Tech. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT at Bobby Dodd Stadium, where the Yellow Jackets enter as 6.5-point favorites.
Georgia Tech won nine games last season and enters the game with expectations as a dark-horse riser in the ACC. Colorado went 3-9 in 2025 and enters year four under Deion Sanders with a new coaching staff, two new coordinators and more than 40 transfers.
The Yellow Jackets have important changes of their own. Here are five things Colorado fans should know before the season opener.
1. Alberto Mendoza is getting his first start
Alberto Mendoza will direct Georgia Tech's offense after Haynes King departed for the NFL. Mendoza is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore who transferred from Indiana
following the Hoosiers' national championship season.
Mendoza spent the 2024 season as a redshirt and served as the backup to his older brother, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, in 2025. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also contributed 190 rushing yards and a touchdown.
His spring performance gave Georgia Tech an encouraging preview. Mendoza completed 12 of 16 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown while serving as an offensive captain.
Mendoza developed at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he helped lead the program to a 26-2 record and two state championships. He threw for 4,596 yards and 57 touchdowns during his high school career.
Colorado's defense will see a quarterback with enough size to add value in the run game. Mendoza's accuracy on throws will be an important part of Georgia Tech's opening plan.
2. Georgia Tech has changed its offensive approach
The Yellow Jackets have a new offensive coordinator in George Godsey and are installing a more deliberate pro-style system. The structure places extra importance on pre-snap recognitions from the defense.
Like Colorado, Georgia Tech plans to use heavier personnel packages that feature tight ends and fullbacks. The approach gives Georgia Tech a way to manage the pace of the game. Colorado's defensive front will need to handle the extra blockers and maintain gap discipline on long possessions.
3. The running back room is a major concern
Georgia Tech's ground game remains centered on physical football. Malachi Hosley returns as an important part of the rotation, and Justice Haynes adds proven talent after transferring from Michigan.
Haynes is expected to help replace Jamal Haynes and give head coach Brent Key a back with experience in high-pressure games. His combination of burst and power could create problems for a Buffaloes defense that is completely reworked.
Hosley and Haynes give Georgia Tech dependable options throughout the game. Key can use either runner to keep the offense moving and place pressure on Colorado's defensive line.
The Buffaloes will need strong games from their linebackers and safeties. Colorado's run-stopping performance is one of the central storylines entering the opener.
4. Kyle Efford leads the defense
Junior linebacker Kyle Efford is the communicator in the middle of Georgia Tech's defense. He plays with a physical style and has the recognition skills to affect both the running game and play-action concepts.
Efford's assignment will include tracking Colorado's new Go-Go offense. The formation and motion elements should create hesitation for defenders, making Efford's pre-snap communication and leadership especially important.
Colorado's offensive line must account for Efford on inside runs. He can close running lanes and force the Buffaloes toward long-yardage situations, giving Georgia Tech's pass rush more chances.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Lewis will also need to recognize Efford's positioning before the snap. Georgia Tech's linebacker could influence calls throughout the game and help the Yellow Jackets disguise pressure.
5. Jordan Walker is the edge threat
Jordan Walker anchors Georgia Tech's defensive front as a senior edge rusher and team captain. He stands 6-foot-5, weighs 280 pounds, giving the Yellow Jackets a powerful presence near the line of scrimmage. Brent Key has described Walker as an "absolute physical freak." His motor and strength make him a difficult matchup for Colorado's tackles.
Walker's pressure will target Lewis' timing. The freshman quarterback will need a clean pocket to work through his reads and deliver the ball accurately downfield to DeAndre Moore Jr., Danny Scudero and Zach Atkins.
Colorado's protection plan will have to account for Walker on every passing down. His performance could shape the amount of time Lewis has to find playmakers and settle into his first college season as starter.
The opener will give Colorado an immediate measure of their progress under Deion Sanders. Georgia Tech's rushing attack, new quarterback and veteran defensive leaders will test the Buffaloes across four quarters.
Julian Lewis and Colorado's collection of new transfers will have a chance to set the tone for the season. The Buffaloes will need to stop the run and not allow Mendoza to have a big debut if they are looking to start 1-0.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: 5 things Colorado fans should know about Georgia Tech
