Sanders urges Colorado to improve after narrow win
Colorado opened the 2026 season with a thrilling 14-13 win over Georgia Tech, but Deion Sanders made it clear the Buffaloes still have work to do. The tense finish exposed concerns on offense, defense and special teams that Colorado needed to address quickly.
The Buffaloes responded emphatically against Weber State with a 52-21 victory, showcasing a much stronger offensive performance. Now, with a Big Ten road test against Northwestern ahead, Colorado has an early opportunity to show whether its Week 2 surge signals meaningful progress.
Colorado survived a late fourth-quarter rally
Georgia Tech led 13-7 with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Julian Lewis then directed an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Williams.
The Yellow Jackets reached Colorado territory again after the score. Boo Carter blocked Aidan Birr’s 45-yard field-goal attempt with three seconds left, preserving Colorado’s one-point victory.
Julian Lewis responded late against Georgia Tech
Julian Lewis completed 14 of 27 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown against Georgia Tech. The freshman quarterback also led Colorado’s final scoring drive after the Buffaloes had struggled to create points earlier.
Lewis completed six passes for 41 yards in the first half. Sanders publicly challenged him at halftime, and Lewis responded with the decisive touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.
Colorado’s running game provided production
Colorado rushed for 183 yards on 49 attempts against Georgia Tech. Damian Henderson II led the team with 65 rushing yards, while Micah Welch added 58 yards and scored Colorado’s first touchdown.
The performance marked Colorado’s second-highest rushing total under Sanders. The Buffaloes also held a 34:09 to 25:51 advantage in time of possession, giving the offense extended opportunities.
The defense limited Georgia Tech’s rushing attack
Colorado held Georgia Tech to 51 rushing yards on 30 attempts. The Yellow Jackets averaged 1.7 yards per carry and recorded only four rushing first downs during the game.
Colorado also recorded three sacks and caused three fumbles. Sanders said the defense still gave up some passes in the secondary that it should have prevented, and identified defensive execution as an area needing improvement.
Special teams created problems and the winning play
Georgia Tech scored its only touchdown on Rahkeem Smith’s 100-yard kickoff return. Colorado also had a field-goal attempt blocked during a 17-play, 61-yard fourth-quarter drive before Boo Carter delivered the decisive block.
Sanders said the special-teams problems were related to personnel and that changes had already been made before Week 2. He said the unit needed to show the results of those changes against Weber State.
Colorado entered Week 2 with specific corrections
Sanders identified three immediate areas for improvement before Colorado hosted Weber State. He wanted better coverage in the secondary, stronger execution from the quarterback and receivers, and more consistent special-teams performance.
The Buffaloes used the extra preparation time after the Thursday opener to correct mistakes. Sanders said the team worked to fix what was broken, address areas where it had not been successful and develop players before the home opener.
Interesting fact: Colorado’s 2026 coaching staff entered the season with 250 combined years of coaching experience, including 172 years at the college level and 106 years at the Power Four level.
Colorado scored 52 points against Weber State
Colorado answered its narrow opener with a 52-21 victory over Weber State on Sept. 12. The Buffaloes finished with 578 total yards, while Julian Lewis threw for 366 yards.
Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for 366 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He threw all four of his touchdown passes in the first half, tying Colorado’s school record for touchdown passes in a half.
Lewis and Colorado’s receivers produced explosive plays
Lewis connected with DeAndre Moore for a 66-yard touchdown on Colorado’s opening play against Weber State. He later threw touchdown passes of 63, 48 and 32 yards during the first half.
Joseph Williams finished with four catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Moore added four catches for 107 yards, giving Colorado two receivers above 100 yards in the same game.
Welch became Colorado’s first 100-yard rusher under Sanders
Micah Welch rushed for 106 yards against Weber State, including a 55-yard touchdown run. He became the first Colorado running back to exceed 100 rushing yards during Sanders’ tenure as head coach.
The Buffaloes continued using multiple running backs in the offense. Colorado’s ground production complemented its passing attack as the team built a 42-14 halftime lead.
Penalties remained a concern after the improvement
Colorado’s offensive production improved sharply against Weber State, but penalties remained a major issue. The Buffaloes were flagged 13 times for 107 yards, according to the game report.
Sanders criticized the team for leaving potential points on the field because of mistakes and penalties. Colorado had committed six penalties for 60 yards against Georgia Tech, so the Week 2 total represented a significant increase.
Colorado allowed 127 rushing yards to Weber State
Colorado followed its 51-yard rushing defense against Georgia Tech by allowing Weber State 127 rushing yards. Seventy-four of those yards came after Colorado had built a 52-14 lead.
The Buffaloes also allowed Weber State quarterback Nate Dahle to pass for 244 yards. Colorado entered the game seeking continued improvement in defensive execution after Sanders highlighted areas in the secondary that needed correction.
The internet is also talking about Mike Tomlin’s NBC debut drawing fan criticism after on-air mistake.
The next test is a Big Ten road game
Colorado improved to 2-0 after defeating Weber State and will travel to face Northwestern next. The Wildcats represent Colorado’s first road opponent since the opening win at Georgia Tech.
The Buffaloes are scheduled to continue their season with a game at Northwestern on Sept. 19. Colorado’s early results include a 1-point road win, followed by a 31-point home victory.
In other news, “reluctant” Lamar Jackson reportedly holds back on Ravens extension talks.
What do you think of Colorado’s start under Deion Sanders? Like this slideshow and comment with your take on the Buffaloes’ chances this season.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
