Colorado‘s first game of the 2025 season was meant to showcase a new era without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but instead it became a reminder of just how much work remains for Deion Sanders and his Buffaloes.
A spirited start at Folsom Field faded into disappointment as Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King stole the show, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 27-20 victory.
The loss marked Sanders’ first Week 1 defeat as a college head coach. His team forced three turnovers in the opening quarter and jumped to a 7-0 lead, only to watch it unravel as King ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns while adding 143 passing yards.
“We could’ve won the game. It’s not like we had our butts kicked,” Sanders said afterward. “If we take advantage of the opportunities, I have a whole different mood up here right now.”
Yet before kickoff, there was a moment that offered the Colorado coach a sense of continuity in a season defined by transition.
For years, Sanders began games with a ritual walk from the 40-yard line to the goal line alongside his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, a symbolic shift from father to coach before the action began.
With Shedeur now in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Shilo pursuing his next move after going undrafted, Sanders assumed the tradition was over.
Then came Isaiah Hardge. The wide receiver stepped into the role unprompted, walking beside Sanders in the same way Shedeur once did.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time, for years,” Sanders explained. “So when we go down from the 40 to the goal line, I’m Dad. I’m making sure he’s straight, how’s he feeling, all that. When we touch that goal line and come back, I’m the coach.”
The gesture may not have changed the outcome of the game, but it gave Sanders a glimpse of the family-like culture he has long tried to cultivate in Boulder.
On the field, however, Colorado‘s shortcomings were evident. King punished a defense that had looked dominant early, converting broken plays into big runs and scoring the decisive touchdown on a 45-yard scamper with just over a minute to play.
“They called my number. I did my job. I followed my blockers,” King said of the game-winner. “The rest is history.”
The Buffaloes’ response fell flat. With two timeouts still available, they managed only a desperate Hail Mary that was batted away as time expired.
Kaidon Salter, making his debut as Colorado’s quarterback after transferring from Liberty, showed flashes with 159 passing yards, a touchdown, and a rushing score. But his offense, missing the steady presence of Shedeur Sanders, lacked rhythm. The Buffs finished with 305 total yards compared to Tech’s 463.
Looking for answers after a setback
Sanders acknowledged that his roster, depleted by NFL departures and injuries, does not have time to ease into cohesion. “We ain’t got time to jell. We’ve got to go right now,” he said.
That urgency comes as Colorado prepares to face Delaware, a new FBS program, in Week 2. While the matchup appears more favorable, the Buffs must correct fundamental issues – especially in run defense, where they were repeatedly exposed.
Even Shedeur Sanders, watching from afar, weighed in on social media: “They’ll figure things out. They have a great head coach.”
The loss also carried symbolic weight. Colorado and Georgia Tech had never met before Friday, but the two programs will always be linked as co-champions of the 1990 national title. On this night, though, the Yellow Jackets walked away with bragging rights.
For all the frustration, Sanders still highlighted Hardge’s pregame gesture as one of the night’s most meaningful takeaways. In a season where questions about personnel and depth dominate headlines, that walk offered a reminder of resilience, tradition, and bonds that transcend results.
“Isaiah didn’t have to do that,” Sanders reflected. “But it meant a lot.”
Colorado’s path forward remains uncertain, but as Sanders rebuilds his roster and identity, moments like these underscore why he continues to insist his program is on the right track. For now, the Buffaloes are left to regroup, reflect, and prepare for the challenges ahead.
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