Deion Sanders’ Blunt Message to Critics After Colorado’s First Win of The Season

After finishing the 2025 season with just three wins, Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes have already grabbed their first win in 2026 with an opening day victory over Georgia Tech.

Deion Sanders’ Blunt Message to Critics After Colorado’s First Win of The Season

Deion Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Deion Sanders‘ Colorado Buffaloes walked out of Bobby Dodd Stadium with a shock victory on Thursday. George Tech naturally started as the overwhelming favorite, given that the Yellow Jackets won this fixture on the final day of last season.

Then again, both teams overhauled their rosters in the offseason. GT lost their star quarterback, Haynes King, who scored 3 rushing touchdowns against the Buffs, to the NFL. Before Thursday’s fixture, Sanders admitted that King made life hell for his team.

GT replaced King with Alberto Mendoza, who won the college football championship with Indiana last year. Alberto, of course, is the younger brother of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Colorado parted ways with Kaidon Salter. Coach Prime picked Sophomore signal caller Julian Lewis as his starting quarterback. Colorado won 14-13.

After the game, Sanders took a sharp dig at the naysayers.

I thought we were small.

Deion Sanders said
RELATED
“I Felt Like a Bad Husband” – NFL Veteran Recalls Tough Time When Bills Cut Him After Marriage

The Colorado-Georgia Tech game was too close for comfort

Colorado went 1-0, but the result could easily have gone in Tech’s favor. The first quarter was a rough watch. Poor distributions and first-day jitters hampered the flow of the game.

Deion Sanders' Blunt Message to Critics After Colorado's First Win of The Season
Deion Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Sanders’ friend and Hall of Famer tight end Shannon Sharpe did not mince his words on Twitter.

Can’t even lie. It’s painful watching the Buffs.

Sharpe tweeted

Yet, there was one positive for the Buffaloes: the pass rush looked solid. New defensive coordinator Chris Marve played his cards right on several occasions.

The game finally saw its first touchdown midway through the second quarter. Running back Micah Welch gave Colorado the lead with a five yard burst. A minute later, Georgia Tech equalized after Rahkeem Smith returned for a 65-yard touchdown straight from the kickoff.

Tech’s kicker increased his team’s lead with consecutive field goals. GT’s special teams chipped in with a blocked field goal to maintain the gap.

With former quarterback Shedeur Sanders watching from the sidelines, Lewis connected with senior tight end Charlie Williams for a 20-yard score with a little over thirty seconds left on the clock.

GT had one final chance to win it right at the depth. But kicker Aidan Birr’s field goal attempt was blocked by Colorado’s special teams, ending the contest.

Lewis had a shaky start to his second year in college. He completed 14 of 27 passes for 124 yards and threw one TD pass. Welch, Damien Henderson, and JaQuail Smith all had more than 40 yards on the ground. Colorado, in fact, outgained Georgia Tech 183-51.

Mendoza had a respectable 17 completions on 23 pass attempts for 237 yards in his debut game. Running back Justice Haynes rushed 19 times for 64 yards, while wide receiver Jordan Allen caught 8 passes for 113 yards.

Georgia stays at home as they welcome ranked No. 20 Tennessee next week, followed by games against Mercer, Stanford, Duke, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest, and the Yellow Jackets end the season with a derby against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Colorado hosts Weber State in week two. After that, Deion Sanders’ team plays against Northwestern, Baylor, Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Arizona State, Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF on the final day.

Also Read: