Athletics in Universities |

The Colorado Buffaloes faced a tough challenge against Georgia Tech on Saturday, ultimately falling 27-20. Despite a strong offensive performance, the Buffaloes' defense struggled to contain the Yellow Jackets' rushing game.

Colorado allowed 320 rushing yards, a number that may not have reflected their defensive prowess. Reggie Hughes, a linebacker for the Buffaloes, attributed the issue to execution rather than physicality, suggesting that improvements can be made in future games.

Haynes King, Georgia Tech's quarterback, capitalized on the Buffaloes' defensive lapses, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 45-yard run. King was not touched during the run, as he was effectively blocked by Georgia Tech's offensive line.

Despite the defensive setbacks, the Buffaloes' offensive line performed admirably. They rushed for 146 yards, marking the third-best total in Deion Sanders' three seasons as head coach. Damon Greaves, the Buffaloes' punter, also had a solid debut, averaging 45.0 yards on five punts and landing three inside the 20-yard line.

The Buffaloes' defensive performance was not all disappointing. DJ McKinney, Preston Hodge, and Carter Stoutmire, the leaders of CU's secondary, played 212 out of 213 snaps. However, two of the five penalties the Buffaloes incurred during the game were against defensive backs, highlighting areas for improvement.

Coach Sanders expressed his disappointment with the defensive performance, stating, "Defensively, no, there's no way you can say you're physical and you got your butt kicked like that." RJ Johnson, Teon Parks, and Tyrecus Davis all saw playing time in the secondary, suggesting that Sanders is looking to shake things up to improve the team's defensive performance.

The Buffaloes' strength and conditioning workouts, reportedly challenging, have resulted in several players transforming their bodies. Buck Buchanan, the Buffaloes' kicker, had touchbacks on all five kickoffs, a significant improvement from last year when CU only had 16 touchbacks in 68 kickoffs.

Despite the loss, the Buffaloes showed resilience and promise. With a strong offensive line and a determined defense, they will be looking to bounce back in their next game.