Georgia Tech opened its season in style with a thrilling 27-20 win over Colorado on Friday behind a standout performance from quarterback Haynes King, who ran 156 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, including a go-ahead 45-yard score with 1:07 remaining. King became the first Georgia Tech player since Tobias Oliver to rush for at least 150 yards and score three rushing touchdowns since 2018.
Colorado’s Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game — which could’ve potentially sent the game to overtime — was batted down in the back of the end zone.
King finished 13 of 20 for 143 yards through the air and helped flip the switch after a disastrous start, which included turning the ball over on Georgia Tech’s first three possessions. After that, the offense was able to settle into a groove and scored points on five of their final seven drives to start the season 1-0 for the second consecutive year.
Georgia Tech put up 463 yards of total offense, while Colorado finished with 305. Colorado’s run defense ranked near the middle of the pack during the 2024 campaign (No. 60 in FBS) but allowed Georgia Tech to finish with 320 yards on the ground.
Year 3 of the Deion Sanders era at Colorado looked promising during the opening quarter with a handful of new faces on the roster. One of them was quarterback Kaidon Salter, who transferred into the program this offseason to replace two-year starter Shedeur Sanders. He finished 17 of 28 for 159 yards and a touchdown and scored a 7-yard touchdown on a quarterback scramble midway through the fourth quarter to tie the game at 20.
Georgia Tech (1-0) hosts FCS Gardner-Webb next Saturday, while Colorado (0-1) plays Delaware.
