The Only Game Preview you Need: The Yellow Jackets Visit Boulder

A Program in Transition vs. A Program on the Rise

Game Details

• Kickoff: Friday, August 29, 6:00 p.m. MT
• Venue: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO; Capacity – 51,000
• TV: ESPN (National)
• Weather: Light showers possible early, clearing by halftime; temps falling from the mid-70s into the low 60s. 
• Tickets: Average ticket price $279; Cheapest ticket available: $94 (SeatGeek, Gametime)

Vegas Odds & Betting Watch

• Spread: Tech favored by 3.5–4 points
• Over/Under: ~54.5 total points
• Moneyline: GT –180, CU +155
• Model Projection (Dimers): GT wins 29–27; 56% win probability vs. CU’s 44%

History: Shared Ties

The Buffs and Yellow Jackets have never met on the football field. But the programs are forever linked by one of the quirkiest endings in college football history: the shared 1990 national title.

That year, Colorado went 11–1–1 under the late great Bill McCartney, capped by a gritty 10–9 Orange Bowl win over Notre Dame. That same season, Georgia Tech finished 11–0–1 under Bobby Ross, punctuated by a statement win over Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl. The result? A split crown — Colorado ranked #1 in the AP Poll, Georgia Tech #1 in the Coaches Poll.

And here’s where the sting—and BuffsBlog’s well-documented disdain for the Corndogs—comes into play. Nebraska’s Corndog-In-Chief Tom Osborne, the same coach who loved to preach “Conference First” and boast about the toughness of the Big 8, went against his own mantra and cast his Coaches Poll ballot for Georgia Tech instead of Colorado. That single swing gave the Jackets the less prestigious—but still official—Coaches Poll championship, robbing the Buffs of the unanimous national title they rightfully earned. 

Screw Tom Osborne and the Corndogs.

The Scene

Night games in Boulder have always carried a certain magic. And when ESPN rolls into Folsom Field, the stakes feel even higher. I still remember being there for the first-ever night game at Folsom in 1988, when Sal Aunese and the Buffs squared off against a heavily favored Oklahoma squad. Temporary lights were rented just to make it happen. Colorado came up just short that night, but the atmosphere was electric and it marked the beginning of a seismic shift in the conference. It’s a memory I’ll never forget. And there wasn’t even a Prime Porta Potty® on the sideline!

Like that game, this Week 1 clash promises to be electric, pitting  two programs at different crossroads: Tech leaning into veteran stability, CU asking what comes next in the post-Shedeur, post-Hunter era.

When CU Has the Ball

Coach Prime has wasted no time resetting the quarterback room. After securing 5-star phenom Julian Lewis as the future of the program, he added 2023 C-USA Player of the Year Kaidon Salter to lead the offense right now. The Liberty University transfer is expected to start, though Lewis should still see meaningful reps.

With Kaidon Salter under center, the Buffs finally have a true dual-threat quarterback. He may not sling it with the surgical accuracy of Julian Lewis, but he brings something CU has sorely lacked: a proven ground game. At Liberty, Salter piled up over 2,000 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, including nearly 1,100 yards and 12 scores in a breakout 2023 season. That running threat has already popped in summer camp, and more than one Buffs observer thinks he could end up leading the team in rushing. What makes him especially dangerous is that he’s not just a runner—Salter can extend plays, throw off-platform, and punish defenses that sell out to stop his legs. Opponents can’t simply load the box; they’ll have to defend the whole field.

Salter won’t be alone. On the outside, the Miller brothers—Omarion and Dre’lon (no relation)—have emerged as the Buffs’ top weapons, with newcomers like TE Zach Atkins and wideouts Sincere Brown and Hykleem Williams also expected to carve out roles.

And then there’s the offensive line. Long a liability, CU’s front has been completely rebuilt into the heaviest unit in program history. Five-star left tackle Jordan Seaton already looks the part of a future All-American. Next to him, guard Xavier Hill has been the steadiest performer, while center Zarian McGill, guards Zylon Crisler/Kareem Harden, and right tackle Larry Johnson III are still out to prove themselves. The one thing they all bring? Size. From left to right, the Buffs average 332 pounds, topping out at 350. Put it this way: this group is big enough to give Pasta Jay night sweats.

OC Pat Shurmur will lean on tempo, quick passes, screens, and RPOs to protect Salter/Lewis and limit their decisions. Expect some designed QB runs for Salter mixed in.

The Jackets counter with a 4–2–5 built to combat spread looks. Jordan van den Berg is the lone returning starter up front — second-team All-ACC last year — and he’ll anchor the line. But the soul of the defense is LB Kyle Efford. Neck roll, passion, sideline-to-sideline effort — he’s the guy who Buff fans will love to hate by the end of Friday night.

When Georgia Tech Has the Ball

While Colorado retools, Georgia Tech arrives with something CU doesn’t yet have: continuity. Quarterback Haynes King, the Texas A&M transfer, is the heartbeat of this team. At 6’3”, 215, he’s a true dual-threat who joined rare company in 2023 as one of only two Power Five QBs to top 2,800 passing yards and 700 rushing yards.

Last fall he sharpened his passing game, hitting nearly 73% of his throws for 2,100+ yards, 14 touchdowns, and just two picks, while still flashing his legs in big moments. His signature outing: a five-touchdown, 400-yard masterpiece in an 8-OT thriller against Georgia. King is tailor-made for Brent Key’s system, which prizes toughness and quick decision-making.

King and RB Jamal Haynes operate behind a seasoned, athletic offensive line anchored by All-ACC guard Keylan Rutledge. While not the bulkiest group (ranging from 290 to 315 pounds), they’re balanced, experienced, and efficient, paving the way for 190 rushing yards per game in 2024. Tech wasn’t padding stats either: they gashed Miami for 271 yards and bulldozed Georgia for 260.

OC Buster Faulkner’s power spread leans on zone reads, quarterback keepers, and play-action, a headache for undisciplined defenses. Colorado’s plan will be to make King give the ball up early, forcing Haynes to carry the load. That means linebackers scraping hard to the quarterback, while DC Robert Livingston rolls a safety down into the box to plug the inside run. If the Buffs can bottle up Tech’s ground game, Faulkner will shift to play-action, testing a secondary that’s a man short.

The bottom line: if Colorado’s linebackers and ends stay disciplined, and the defensive backs hold steady without the extra safety, CU has a shot to flip the script.

Keys to Victory

Colorado

• Control the line of scrimmage
• QBs play efficient, turnover-free ball
• Set the edge vs. zone reads
• Hit explosive plays (Miller Brothers, special teams sparks)
• Push tempo, let altitude wear down Tech in the 4th

Georgia Tech

• Let King dictate with zone reads & play-action
• Dominate trenches with Rutledge and OL
• Pressure CU’s new QBs into mistakes
• Use misdirection/gadget plays
• Win red-zone and turnover battles

Winning the Tailgate

BOTW (Beer of the Week): Dale’s Pale Ale (Lyons/Longmont, CO)

The original craft beer in a can. Balanced with malt and hops, but still crushable in a parking lot. Yes, Dale sold the business years ago and it’s now part of a global player—but the roots are pure Colorado. Dale started brewing in Lyons, and he’s never stopped giving back in Boulder County. That story alone makes every can taste better.

WOTW (White of the Week): Three Brooms Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, NZ)

Bright, crisp, and tailor-made for a late-summer night in Boulder. Rumor has it, @Bowen St. Buffs downs it like Gatorade. One glass, and you’ll understand why.

ROTW (Red of the Week): Daou Cabernet (Paso Robles, CA)

Bold, fruit-forward, and flat-out delicious. Perfect with a burger hot off the grill, or just sipping as you settle in before kickoff.

Bubbles of the Week: Adami Bosco di Gica (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Italy)

Bright, clean and elegant – a touch of class in a sea of koozies. Ideal for an evening kickoff, and best mixed only with school spirit.

What Our Opponents Are Drinking:

Helluvienna Lager (New Realm Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA): A Vienna-style lager named as a nod to Georgia Tech’s fight song (I’m A Ramblin’ Wreck, A Helluva, Helluva Engineer!). Brewed by New Realm Brewing Co., which partnered with Georgia Tech in 2022 to become the school’s official craft beer. And as always:

Go Buffs – Beat the Yellow Jackets!

Thanks for reading. Now, if you want to fall deeper into the BuffsBlog blogosphere, check out this article by BuffsBlog’s own Commander Ace Hunter as he roasts the Big 12 QBs. Only at:

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: 2025 Big 12 Quarterbacks Edition