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Georgia Tech vs Colorado final score, results: Yellow Jackets rushing attack overpowers Buffaloes in season-opening win

Jake Mozarsky

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Georgia Tech vs Colorado final score, results: Yellow Jackets rushing attack overpowers Buffaloes in season-opening win image

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Going into the season opener, all the talk was about Deion Sanders and his revamped Colorado team. With the losses of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the college football world was interested to see how the Buffaloes would open the season.

On the other side was Georgia Tech, which returned key offensive production in quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes. The Yellow Jackets showed they were the more experienced team, and despite a rocky start with three turnovers in their first three drives, Georgia Tech came out of Boulder with a 27-20 victory against Sanders and co.

The game started as badly as it could for Brent Key’s offense, which fumbled on its second snap of the game, giving Colorado the ball on the Georgia Tech 38. Colorado scored immediately, with new starting quarterback Kaidon Salter hitting DeKalon Taylor in the end zone. Georgia Tech turned over the ball on its next two drives, but its defense kept the team in the game.

From there, the Yellow Jacket offense was nearly flawless. Georgia Tech had the second-best rushing attack in the ACC in 2024 — led by King and Haynes, who combined for 20 touchdowns — and that was the same story for the Yellow Jackets in their first game of 2025, outrushing the Buffaloes 320 yards to 146 throughout the night.

Salter came into his own late in the game for Colorado, including tying the game with a gritty rushing touchdown, but it was not enough, as Colorado's final drive fizzled out. The Georgia Tech rushing offense was too much for Colorado, which lost its first season opener since 2022.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Friday’s marquee matchup at Folsom Field. Check out below for all the action in Boulder.

STREAM: Watch Colorado vs. Georgia Tech live with fubo (free trial)

Colorado vs. Georgia Tech football score

 

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Colorado vs. Georgia Tech live updates, highlights from Week 1 college football game

11:24 p.m. — On the final play, Salter lobs a Hail Mary 60 yards, which is batted by Georgia Tech. While Dre'Lon Miller had a chance on the deflection, the ball hit the ground. The Yellow Jackets win on the road, a disappointing result that left a sour taste to start the third season of the Sanders era.

Georgia Tech 27, Colorado 20

11:18 p.m. — It's been the Haynes King show on the ground all night, and in the most crucial moment, the quarterback once delivers.

With 1:07 remaining, King breaks loose on a quarterback draw, taking it 45 yards to the house to give Georgia Tech a 27-20 lead. The senior has 19 carries for 156 yards and three touchdowns for a Yellow Jacket rushing attack that has ran for over 300 yards.

11:13 p.m. — At the two-minute timeout, Georgia Tech has a 3rd & 1 around midfield.

11:08 p.m. — On 3rd & 6, Salter has time in the pocket, but finds nobody in his progressions. He overthrows Taylor, and Colorado has to punt. Eric Rivers returns the punt for 21 yards across the Buffaloes 40-yard line, and Georgia Tech takes over with just under three minutes remaining. 

11:04 p.m. — Georgia Tech follows up the Haynes chunk play with two one-yard carries, then two false start penalties. On a 3rd & 18, King has a wide open receiver on the right sideline, but just misses him, and the Yellow Jackets' promising drive stalls.

Colorado takes over with just under 5:19 remaining.

10:56 p.m. — Georgia Tech opens up the drive with a pass play, with King dumping it off to Haynes, who breaks loose for 27 yards. Just like that, the Yellow Jackets are in opponent territory.

Georgia Tech 20, Colorado 20

10:48 p.m. TOUCHDOWN— On a 1st & 10, Salter overthrows running back Simeon Price on what would be a walk-in touchdown. On the same third down, the senior evades the Georgia Tech rush once again, and he scrambles up the middle and lunges into the end zone for a touchdown, tying the game for the second time this half. Mata's extra point was deflected by the Georgia Tech rush, but the ball went right over the goalpost.

Salter has 33 yards on the ground tonight. While it has not been his best passing game, his legs have extended multiple Colorado drives. This run gives Colorado its first touchdown since the Buffaloes' first drive.

10:42 p.m. — It looked like Georgia Tech stopped Colorado on a 4th & 1, but Salter is able to lunge forward after contact to keep the chains moving. The next play, the quarterback tries finding Taylor on a wheel route, but the pass is tipped. It almost results in a Yellow Jackets interception by Cayman Spaulding.

10:39 p.m. — Salter completes another pass to Taylor for nine yards to move the chains to the Georgia Tech 32. Taylor has three receptions for 38 yards and the lone touchdown for the Buffaloes.

End of third quarter: Georgia Tech 20, Colorado 13

10:32 p.m. — Salter completes a pass to Dre'Lon Miller for 14 yards to open up the drive as the clock winds down to zeroes. Colorado trails Georgia Tech by seven entering the final quarter.

Georgia Tech 20, Colorado 13

10:28 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — On the seventh consecutive rushing play, King keeps it on the read option and takes it 17 yards to the end zone for his second rushing touchdown on the night.

Georgia Tech has 258 rushing yards through three quarters and takes its biggest lead of the game.

10:24 p.m. — On a 4th & 1, King quarterback sneaks up the middle to keep the drive going.

Georgia Tech 13, Colorado 13

10:14 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Georgia Tech's defense has another stand inside the 10-yard line, as Jordan van den Berg bull rushes Salter for a six-yard loss. But Mata hits another field goal — his second of the game — to tie up the contest at 13.

10:11 p.m. — Colorado opens up the drive with a 21-yard completion from Salter to Taylor, and after two Welch rushes, Salter scrambles to the Georgia Tech 10 for a first down. A late hit out of bounds moves the ball to the Yellow Jacket five.

10:08 p.m. — Georgia Tech opens up the drive with four straight runs, but two incompletions by King leads to a Georgia Tech punt. Taylor returns it for 11 yards, and a face mask penalty adds on 15 more yards for Colorado, setting them up in good field position. The Buffaloes begin the drive at the 50-yard line.

9:58 p.m. — Welch opens up the half with a 22-yard run, and follows it up with a six-yard run to move Colorado across midfield. However, it results in nothing, as the Buffaloes offense stalls out again and is forced to punt.

9:45 p.m. —At halftime, King and the Georgia Tech offense was the better unit. King was 9/13 for 97 yards and an interception, but has also ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Yellow Jackets ran for 172 yards in the first half.

On the other side, Salter is 6/10 for 48 yards and a touchdown, and 47 of those have come from the Taylor touchdown and Miller chunk play. The Buffaloes ran for 71 yards in the first half, with both running back Micah Welch and Salter having 24 yards.

Colorado will receive the ball to open up the second half.

Halftime: Georgia Tech 13, Colorado 10

9:32 p.m. — Georgia Tech runs a 9-play, 49-yard drive with 1:39 remaining, and Birr hits a field goal to give the Yellow Jackets a lead going into the locker room.

9:29 p.m. — King breaks loose again on a 3rd & 7, rushing for 25 yards down to the Colorado 34. The combination of King and Haynes has now rushed for over 100 yards.

Georgia Tech 10, Colorado 10

9:25 p.m. FIELD GOAL — The chunk play from Salter to Miller gets Colorado well into Georgia Tech territory, but the Buffaloes are unable to do anything with a 1st & 10 from the Georgia Tech 25. Senior kicker Alejandro Mata drills a 42-yard field goal to tie up the game.

9:17 p.m. — On a 3rd & 10 with Georgia Tech gaining momentum, Salter delivers a 39-yard bomb to junior wideout Omarion Miller on the left sideline. Colorado is now on the Georgia Tech 25.

Georgia Tech 10, Colorado 7

9:10 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — King takes the snap and follows blockers for a four-yard touchdown, giving the Yellow Jackets a 10-7 lead on their first touchdown of the season.

King had 11 rushing touchdowns in 2024, many off similar plays. Now, he has his first of 2025.

9:07 p.m. — King swings a pass to running back Malachi Hoseley, who takes it 24 yards to the Colorado 23. The Yellow Jackets are knocking on the door once again.

9:06 p.m. — On third down, Colorado records its second straight sack on King, but a defensive holding penalty keeps the drive alive. King then competes a pass to Bailey Stockton for 23 yards, putting Georgia Tech in opponent territory.

8:58 p.m. — A facemask penalty against Georgia Tech extends the drive for Colorado, but the Buffaloes don't do anything with it. Salter finds himself under duress and throws the ball away, and Colorado is forced to punt again.

The Buffaloes' offense has struggled since the first drive of the game, where it took the lead. Salter is 4/8 for 12 yards up to this point.

Colorado 7, Georgia Tech 3

8:49 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Georgia Tech puts together a 13-play, 84-yard drive, but had to settle for a field goal after a holding penalty draws them back from the Colorado 8. Aidan Birr — who famously hit the game-winning field goal over No. 10 Florida State in the Yellow Jackets' 2024 opener — gives Georgia Tech its first points of the 2025 season.

End of first quarter: Colorado 7, Georgia Tech 0

8:42 p.m. — The first quarter has concluded in Boulder with Georgia Tech at the Colorado 10. While they had three turnovers, the Yellow Jackets rushed for over 100 yards in the first quarter and are knocking on the door.

8:38 p.m. — Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Rivers breaks loose for 27 yards, putting Georgia Tech on the Colorado 40. 

8:28 p.m. — The disastrous start continues for the Georgia Tech offense, as King throws the ball into traffic and it's intercepted by D.J. McKinney.

The Colorado defense has forced three turnovers in three drives.

8:18 p.m. — A bad snap to King causes Georgia Tech to once again turn over the ball to Colorado, who pounces on the loose ball and forces its second turnover in two drives. Martavius French, who also recovered the first fumble, fell on top of the ball.

8:11 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Salter's second pass attempt as a Buffalo is a touchdown pass to running back DeKalon Taylor. Salter evaded pressure, rolled right, and delivered a bullet to Welch. Colorado takes an early 7-0 lead.

8:07 p.m. —After a Malik Rutherford run for 13 yards to open up the game, King fumbles on the exchange with Jamal Haynes, and Colorado recovers. The Buffaloes open their first drive at the Georgia Tech 36-yard line.

8:06 p.m. — Colorado kicks off, and we are underway at Folsom Field. Haynes King and the Yellow Jackets get the ball first.

8:00 p.m. — It's game time. 

Georgia Tech and Colorado have run onto the field in Boulder, and teams are set for kickoff.

7:47 p.m. — Coach Prime has arrived.

Deion Sanders has taken the field with his Colorado Buffaloes, and was seen hyping up the team during warmups.

 

7:43 p.m. — With kickoff in approaching, Colorado has unveiled its uniforms. The Buffaloes will be going with the classic black jerseys with gold pants. On the other side, Georgia Tech is in its all-whites.

7:15 p.m. — Both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter's numbers are on display at Folsom Field. Over two years at Colorado, Sanders and Hunter were the faces of the program, leading the team to a 9-4 record in 2024. Sanders set the program's career touchdown record with 64,  along with the most passing yards and touchdowns in a season with 4,134 and 37. Hunter became Colorado's first Heisman winner since Rashaan Salaam in 1994, and became the second defensive player to ever win the award.

6:58 p.m — Just over an hour before kickoff, Colorado starting quarterback Kaidon Salter is spotted warming up. Salter, who spent three seasons with Liberty from 2022 to 2024, is the Buffaloes' first signal-caller in the post-Shedeur Sanders era.

6:24 p.m. — Legendary NFL wide receiver Randy Moss was spotted at Folsom Field for Colorado's season opener. Moss is wearing a white Colorado sweatshirt with the saying "Ain't hard 2 Find," after speaking to the Buffaloes earlier in the week.

6:02 p.m — Former Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., who recorded 1,000+ yards over two seasons with the Buffaloes, and safety Cam'Ron Simon Craig, are back in Boulder for the season opener. Horn Jr. now plays for the Carolina Panthers, and Simon Craig is with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

5:40 p.m. — A portable toilet, sponsored by Depend adult underwear, has been spotted on the Colorado sideline. This comes after Sanders openly stated that he now has to wear adult diapers in July 2025 as a result of his cancer diagnosis, where he underwent surgery to have his bladder removed.

MORE: Deion Sanders diaper ad, explained 

How to watch Colorado vs. Georgia Tech

Colorado vs. Georgia Tech vs Colorado start time 

  • Date: Friday, Aug. 29
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET

The Yellow Jackets and Buffaloes are slated to kick off at 8 p.m. ET.

What channel is Colorado vs. Georgia Tech on today?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

The Colorado vs. Georgia Tech game will be broadcast on ESPN. Dave Pasch will be on play-by-play, with Dusty Dvoracek as a color analyst and Taylor McGregor on the sidelines.

Georgia Tech football schedule 2025

DateGameTime
8/29at Colorado8 p.m. ET
9/6vs Gardner-Webb3:30 p.m. ET
9/13vs No. 4 Clemson12 p.m. ET
9/20vs TempleTBD
9/27at Wake ForestTBD
10/11vs Virginia TechTBD
10/18at DukeTBD
10/25vs SyracuseTBD
11/1at NC StateTBD
11/15at Boston CollegeTBD
11/22vs PittTBD
11/28vs No. 5 Georgia3:30 p.m. ET

Colorado football schedule 2025

DateGameTime
8/29vs Georgia Tech8 p.m. ET
9/6vs Delaware3:30 p.m. ET
9/12at Houston7:30 p.m. ET
9/20vs WyomingTBD
9/27vs BYU10:15 p.m. ET
10/4at TCUTBD
10/11vs No. 22 Iowa StateTBD
10/25at UtahTBD
11/1vs ArizonaTBD
11/8at West VirginiaTBD
11/22vs No. 11 Arizona StateTBD
11/29at No. 17 Kansas StateTBD

Jake Mozarsky

Jake Mozarsky joined The Sporting News as an Editorial Intern in August 2025 after earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University. He has previously written for Marquee Sports Network, Chicago This Week, Inside NU and The Daily Northwestern.