Colorado football is back under the Friday night lights to start the season—again.
The Buffs’ 2025 opener against Georgia Tech is officially set for Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. MT. It’ll air nationally on ESPN, marking the 14th straight nationally televised game for CU and continuing the unprecedented media run since Deion Sanders took over.
That’s 21 of the first 25 games of the Coach Prime era on a major network.
There’s no denying it: Colorado football is still a national storyline.
Friday nights, Folsom Field, and a new era
This year’s opener mirrors last season in more ways than one. Just like last August, the Buffs will open on a weekday evening in Boulder. Last year, it was North Dakota State on a Thursday. This year, a tougher test: Georgia Tech, a team that won seven games in 2024 and spent time ranked in the AP Top 25.
And unlike last year, the stars who helped Colorado return to relevance—Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Shilo Sanders, and more—are now in the NFL. What remains is a new-look roster and a coaching staff trying to blend experience with high-upside talent.
QB Battle will be the obvious storyline
There’s no starting quarterback named yet—and it’s likely to stay that way until just before kickoff.
Coach Prime made it clear after the spring game that there’s no rush.
“What benefits us to name a guy a starter?” he said. “I may change my mind tomorrow.”
That competition is between Kaidon Salter, the dynamic transfer from Liberty with over 2,700 passing yards and 800 rushing yards last season, and Julian “JuJu” Lewis, the five-star freshman from Georgia who enrolled early and impressed coaches right away.
Both quarterbacks had strong moments during the spring game. Salter looked calm and in control, while Lewis showed the arm talent and poise that made him a top recruit. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has real options. Don’t expect a decision until late in fall camp.
New faces, new names to know
Beyond quarterback, Buffs Nation will see a lot of new names on the field.
The Buffs' transfer portal class is ranked No. 2 in the Big 12, featuring experienced talent like Alabama DT Jehiem Oatis, seven new offensive linemen, and several Power Five defensive additions. It’s clear Colorado made the trenches a priority.
Freshman receivers Quentin Gibson and Quanell Farrakhan Jr. turned heads during spring ball, and S Tawfiq Byard looks like he’ll push for early playing time as well.
There’s a lot of young talent on this roster, and Georgia Tech in Week 1 will be their first real measuring stick.
Georgia Tech won’t be a pushover
Make no mistake, this is a real test.
Georgia Tech returns quarterback Haynes King, who threw for 27 touchdowns last season, and head coach Brent Key has the Yellow Jackets trending upward. They beat Miami and North Carolina last year, and they won’t be intimidated by a national spotlight.
But this is Folsom Field. In front of a Friday night crowd. And for Colorado, this game means more than just starting 1–0.
It’s a tone-setter for Year 3 of the Deion Sanders era. A way to show that CU football didn’t just flash for a season and fade. With the eyes of the country back on Boulder, the Buffs will have a golden opportunity to reintroduce themselves.
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