September 1, 2026

In This Issue 

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Campus Team Sports along with News

from the Atlantic Coast Conference

Season Opener Clash On The Flats: New-Look Jackets, Buffaloes, Ready For Thursday Night Fireworks

By Don Stone, Georgia Tech Express

>>The lights of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field will shine bright this week as Georgia Tech prepares to host Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes in a highly anticipated, primetime season opener this Thursday.

>>Coming off a thrilling 27-20 victory over the Buffaloes in Boulder to start their previous campaign, Tech enters this year’s rematch as a near-touchdown favorite on their home turf. However, with massive roster turnover and fresh coordinators on both sides, this Week 1 clash feels like a brand-new script.

>>“Last year was last year, and this is a completely different football team we’re preparing for,” Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key emphasized during his weekly press conference. “Coach Prime has flipped their personnel again, especially on defense. If we think we can just walk out there and replicate what we did in Boulder, we’re in for a very long night. We have to be disciplined.”

>>The chief storyline for the Yellow Jackets centers around the quarterback position. With star signal-caller Haynes King gone, now with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, quarterback Alberto Mendoza is stepping into the spotlight as the team’s new offensive leader. He faces a rebuilt Colorado defense operating under a brand-new defensive coordinator.

>>Meanwhile, Colorado brings its own air of mystery to Atlanta. After finishing last season on a tough five-game slide, the Buffaloes are handing the keys of the offense to highly touted quarterback Julian Lewis.

>>“We’ve got a young, hungry quarterback, some electric new targets out wide, and a point to prove,” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders told reporters. “Atlanta is a special place, and playing under the lights on ESPN is exactly where our young men want to be. We know Tech is physical, but we’re coming to compete from the first whistle.”



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Georgia Tech's HC Brent Key's Press Conference

Previewing Colorado

>>"Deion (Sanders)'s the biggest sports celebrity to ever play in Atlanta and he’s coming back home," Key remarked with genuine admiration. 

>>With former local high school standouts like freshman phenom quarterback Julian Lewis returning to his home state under Colorado's banners, Key knew the visitors would feel right at home. "They’ve got some guys from Georgia. They’re gonna have a ton of people here."

>>"Their defensive coordinator has had success against us," Key admitted candidly, referencing how Chris Marve's past schemes had whipped them upfront.

>>"You better look good in your base offense, defense and special teams," Key emphasized, looking out at the room of reporters. "You really don't know what the other side is going to do."

>>He noted that he had been "giving linebacker Kyle Efford a hard time by waiting to announce him as the program's fourth permanent team captain for the season until a few days ago," but concluded that "he has earned it over a lot of years at GT."

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Colorado HC Deion Sanders' Press Conference

Previewing Georgia Tech

>> “Yeah, he's really good. He's dynamic. (running back Justice Haynes). He can score from anywhere on the field. He's tough. He's physical. He's been there, done that. I think he averaged what, a buck 22 last season. I mean, the kid can play, man. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to keep him contained; we are fully aware of wherever he's going to line up on Thursday night. We will be aware of who he is. Trust me, this kid can flat out play,” Sanders said.

>>"Truly a task [on facing Georgia Tech]," Sanders continued. "Thank God that quarterback [Haynes King] is gone. Tough, hard-nosed, detailed coach...it is going to be a tremendous challenge."

>>"These young men are excited," Sanders said about his roster. "They can't wait to go.

>>"The intensity is there. They have been consistent on who they are since the beginning. It's a multitude of things, lots of inspiration, encouraging, challenging… These coaches are really good at communicating with the young men on our roster. It's second to none. I want to see how they get to the ball defensively," Sanders said. "I want to see the explosiveness of some of the [defensive] backs. When you fly to the ball like that you should see turnovers."



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Georgia Tech Opens Season With Colorado

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

(0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs Colorado Buffaloes

(0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Date: Thursday, September 3

Site: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN: Click Here

Play-by-Play: Matt Barrie

Analyst: Chase Daniel

Sideline Reporter: Paul Carcaterra

Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan

Satellite: SiriusXM 84

Play-by-Play: Andy Demetra

Analyst: Andrew Gardner

Sideline Reporter: Chris Mooneyham

Mobile Apps: GT Yellow Jackets,

680 The Fan, SiriusXM, TuneIn

Online: RamblinWreck.com, 680TheFan.com

The ACC Weekly Release: Click Here

Georgia Tech Game Notes: Click Here

Colorado Game Notes: Click Here

Georgia Tech Preview: Click Here

Colorado Preview: Click Here

Georgia Tech Express: Click Here

Football Atlanta: Click Here

ACC Football Schedule

ACC Football Weekly Release

 - Click Here

All Times Eastern

Thursday, September 3

Akron @ Wake Forest

7:00 p.m. Winston-Salem, NC (ACC Network)

Colorado @ Georgia Tech

8:00 p.m. Atlanta, GA (ESPN)

Friday, September 4

Miami @ Stanford

9:00 p.m. Stanford, CA (ESPN)

Saturday, September 5

New Hampshire @ Syracuse

12:00 p.m. Syracuse, NY (ACC Network)

Miami (OH) @ Pitt

12:30 p.m. Pittsburgh, PA (The CW)

Tulane @ Duke

3:30 p.m. Durham, NC (ACC Network)

Boston College @ Cincinnati

3:30 p.m. Cincinnati, OH (FOX)

Clemson @ LSU

7:30 p.m. Baton Rouge, LA (ABC)

VMI @ Virginia Tech

7:30 p.m. Blacksburg, VA (ACC Network)

UCLA @ California

10:30 p.m. Berkeley, CA (ESPN)

Sunday, September 6
Mississippi @ Louisville

7:30 p.m. Nashville, TN (ABC)

Monday, September 7
SMU @ Florida State

7:30 p.m. Tallahassee, FL (ESPN)

ACC Football Power Rankings

>>The ACC is unique among the so-called major conferences, in that we’ve actually seen over a quarter of its members in action already. While that doesn’t mean these power rankings are definitive, we do have a few datapoints to consider before the rest of the league takes the field in Week 1.

1. Miami Hurricanes - 2026 Record: 0-0

(Last Week #1)

>>This week: Friday at Stanford.

>>What to know: The Hurricanes remain the odds-on favorites, despite the fact that they’ve never actually won the ACC championship. They’ll cement that status with an impressive showing in the ACC opener.

2. SMU Mustangs - 2026 Record: 0-0
(Last Week #2)

>>This week: Monday at Florida State.

>>What to know: The element of surprise might have worked in the Mustangs’ favor when they played for the ACC title in their first year. They won’t sneak up on anyone now, and they’ve got a big target against the Noles.

3. Virginia Cavaliers - 2026 Record: 1-0
(Last Week #6)

>>This week: Open date.

>>What to know: The Cavaliers served notice against North Carolina State in bid to return to the conference title game. They’ll have this off week before hosting Norfolk State.

4. Louisville Cardinals - 2026 Record: 1-0
(Last Week #3)

>>This week: Sunday vs. Mississippi.

>>What to know: We’ll learn a lot about the Cardinals this week in Nashville. They don't need a win, but a competitive showing would do a lot for the credibility of both the team and the conference.

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