Takeaways from Georgia Tech’s stunning loss to Colorado in season opener

Georgia Tech’s season-opening loss to Colorado on Thursday produced perplexing scenes at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets are a program built on toughness and physicality, and they couldn’t run the ball. The offense didn’t score a single touchdown, and the defense couldn’t hold up in the final minute after previously limiting Colorado to just seven points.

In the 14-13 loss, Georgia Tech wasn’t ready to win.

Coach Brent Key said he told his players in the locker room following the game that it didn’t really matter whether Aidan Birr had connected on the potential game-winning field goal that was blocked at the buzzer.

His team didn’t play well enough. Not well enough on Thursday, and it surely won’t fly next week against No. 20 Tennessee, either.

“If that ball goes in at the end, everybody is cheering and having fun, does it really change how we played 130 other plays of the game?” Key said.

Here are takeaways from Tech’s deflating loss to coach Deion Sanders and Colorado:

Georgia Tech couldn’t do what it does

For years under Key’s direction, the Yellow Jackets have piled up rushing yards as the foundation of the program. Sure, Haynes King was going to be nearly impossible to replace as a dual-threat quarterback and leader.

But the Jackets added Michigan transfer running back Justice Haynes to a deep position group that includes senior Malachi Holsey and emerging redshirt freshman Tre Maddox.

The ground game didn’t get going.

Haynes averaged 3.4 yards per carry, running 19 times for 64 yards. Holsey added just 14 yards on six tries. Maddox didn’t get an official touch after he and quarterback Alberto Mendoza fumbled an exchange on an end-around.

Entering this season, the Jackets also had to replace offensive line anchor Keylan Rutledge, a two-time All-America selection who became the first Tech player in 15 years selected in the first round of the NFL draft this summer. Joe Fusile, another longtime starter, is gone, too.

Key was asked if he’s concerned about how the offensive line performed Thursday.

“Concerning means it probably can’t be fixed,” Key said. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m still bullish on this team. I’m very confident in this football team. I am. We’ll see where the confidence goes.”

Jackets’ defense played well enough to win

Colorado found something that wasn’t predicted.

The Buffaloes run an up-tempo offensive style, with most of the preseason chatter centered on second-year quarterback Julian Lewis and a fleet of speedy receivers.

But Tech’s defense shut down the Buffaloes’ passing game for most of the night.

Before Colorado’s final drive, Lewis had completed just 10 of 21 passes for 64 yards.

Instead, the Buffaloes ran for 183 yards and a touchdown on 49 carries and controlled the field-position battle for the majority of the contest.

Key said there’s work to be done on the defensive front, but he saw positives in the secondary.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of effort out there,” he said. “I thought the guys on the back end did a really nice job in coverage. Really nice job.”

Key pointed to Jaylen Mbakwe, the Alabama transfer corner, and safeties Tae Harris and Savion Riley as defensive backs who stood out.

“It’s the guys up front that we’ve got to take a strong look at what’s going on,” Key said, “from a schematic standpoint, an execution standpoint.”

Special teams giveth and taketh

Tech’s special teams both kept the Jackets in the game and cost them a chance to win.

The good: Rahkeem Smith’s 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in the second quarter pushed Tech back into the contest and a 7-7 tie. It was the Jackets’ first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2021.

And 6-foot-9 tight end Kevin Roche Jr. set up what appeared to be a Tech victory with a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter.

The bad: Tech kicker Aidan Birr missed a 35-yard field goal wide right in the first quarter. And then his attempt at the buzzer never had a chance after it was swatted.

Preceding Birr’s first miss was an illegal-formation penalty that moved the Jackets back five yards and cost them an opportunity for six points instead of trying for three.

The Jackets finished with nine total penalties, costing them 49 yards.

“Look, penalties are going to happen on the field of play,” Key said. “Combat penalties are what they’re called. But discipline penalties, those can’t happen.”

Two throws we’ll never remember

Indiana transfer quarterback Alberto Mendoza completed 74% of his pass attempts, 17-of-23 for 237 yards.

Two of those completions could have been remembered as plays that secured his first Tech victory in his first college start.

After Roche Jr. blocked Colorado’s field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter, Tech faced third-and-8 and a potential punt. Instead, Mendoza found Jordan Allen for 21 yards to keep the drive alive and set up Birr’s field goal to put the Jackets ahead 13-7.

After the Buffaloes answered, Mendoza did it again.

His 42-yard pass to Dalen Penson set up Birr’s potential game-winner.

The outcome, however, overshadowed what could have been a memorable debut for Mendoza.