This is the kind of season opener that sneaks up on you.
Friday Night Lights. No longtime rivalry. Not a lot of information about who this team is. Georgia Tech coming to Folsom Field on August 29 is the exact kind of game that will tell us who these 2025 Colorado Buffaloes are going to be.
Vegas doesn’t like us in this one. And I get it. Georgia Tech returns a seasoned dual-threat QB in Haynes King, a power run game, and a defense that allowed the fewest sacks in the ACC last season.
That might not sound sexy, but it’s the kind of physical, methodical team that can ruin your home opener if you’re not ready.
Quarterback Battle Casts a Shadow
Everything around CU football right now starts with the quarterback battle. The reins are up for grabs between Kaidon Salter, the Liberty transfer with wheels and swagger, and true freshman JuJu Lewis, the 5-star phenom who’s been compared to Bryce Young.
No matter who gets the nod, they’ll be stepping into a system that needs rhythm right out the gate. Georgia Tech will try to confuse them with pressure looks while keeping everything in front. If we’re going to beat them, someone under center needs to settle in fast.
Salter brings the experience and explosiveness. Lewis brings the arm talent and long-term upside. The safe money says we’ll see both in week one, especially if the offense stalls early.
Buffs' New Identity: Defense First?
For the first time under Coach Prime, we might be looking at a defense-led team. And you know what? I’m okay with that.
The trenches have been retooled. Alabama transfer Jaheim Oatis and Fresno State’s Gavriel Lightfoot anchor a defensive front that might finally be ready to push back instead of getting pushed around.
And that’s exactly what we’ll need. Because King, Georgia Tech’s QB, is no joke. He threw for over 2,100 yards and ran for nearly 600 more last season.
He’s smart with the ball (only 2 INTs) and deadly on third down. Add in Jamal Haynes and Ivy League transfer Malachi Hosley in the backfield, and that’s a nightmare to scheme against in week one.
But there’s a crack in the foundation. Georgia Tech lost their top wide receiver, Eric Singleton Jr., to Auburn.
Their offense thrives on RPOs and quick reads, but they haven’t shown they can consistently win downfield. If our corners play disciplined man coverage and force King to be a pocket passer, that’s where the Buffs can steal momentum.
The Matchup to Watch: CU WRs vs GT Secondary
On the other side, let’s not pretend like Georgia Tech is Alabama. Their defense ranked last in the ACC in sacks and struggled to pressure quarterbacks. They play a lot of zone, and while they’re disciplined, they lack elite athletes in the secondary.
That spells opportunity.
This has to be the coming-out party for Quentin Gibson. CU has the horses at wideout to torch any secondary if the ball gets out on time.
If Salter or Lewis can hit throws early, Georgia Tech will be forced to open up.
So What Are We Walking Into?
Honestly? A chess match. Brent Key’s team won’t beat itself. They opened last season with a win over Florida State in Dublin and took Georgia to EIGHT overtimes. That tells you everything you need to know.
But this is Folsom, and this is a new year. This is the first post-Shedeur, post-Travis Hunter game. And it has to be a tone setter.
If Colorado wants to be taken seriously in the Big 12 this year, this opener can’t be a nail-biter. It has to be a statement.
Georgia Tech is a good team. But if the rebuild is truly ahead of schedule, we should be better. Period.
So let’s see it. Let’s stop talking about potential and start stacking wins.
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