ATLANTA — These Buffaloes just might be different after all.

After one-score losses early in the 2025 season derailed Deion Sanders’ team on the way to a 3-9 record, the latest Colorado team has already delivered in the clutch in a big way.

Julian Lewis’ 20-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Williams in the final minute helped complete a 14-13 comeback win over Georgia Tech on a warm Thursday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Here are three takeaways from the win to kick off the 2026 campaign:

Cardiac Buffs deliver heroics

It felt improbable when the Buffs offense came back on the field, but the unit that struggled to finish drives all night pulled off a two-minute drill for the ages, needing barely a minute to drive three-quarters of the field to win the game on Lewis’ touchdown pass.

Then, when CU looked to have given the game right back on a long pass to begin the following Georgia Tech drive, the Buffs’ dismal special teams unit blocked the potential game-winning 35-yard field-goal attempt to complete a stunning comeback in Atlanta. 

Lamont Lester’s big debut

Questions about this new-look group of CU edge rushers were quickly answered by Monmouth transfer Lamont Lester Jr.

After being a disruptive force at the FCS level last season, he showed up in a big way against a physical Yellow Jackets offensive line, racking up three sacks in his first game at the Power Four level.

It’s a group that is composed completely of players coming up from either the Group of Six or Football Championship Subdivision and Lester looked the most ready for the big leagues.

Injuries already

It’s only Week 1 and already the Buffs have been bitten by the injury bug.

Reportedly a game-time decision coming into the game, star San Jose State transfer wide receiver Danny Scudero suited up and started but only played in the first half after appearing to take a hard hit following a catch in the first quarter. He finished with four catches for 12 yards in his CU debut.

Houston transfer center Demetrius Hunter also appeared to suffer a leg injury in the second half and went to the locker room. 

Defensively, the Buffs were limited to just four healthy edge rushers and five healthy defensive tackles, with offensive lineman Chauncy Gooden chipping in to provide an extra body, but that had much less of a visible effect as CU was able to control the line of scrimmage defensively for large stretches of the game.