ESPN
The Georgia Tech football team took down Colorado in Boulder to notch a season opening win. Things looked bleak early on the in contest.
Nothing was going right for the Yellow Jackets. They shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions. Some of that was due to execution and a lack of ball security. One instance was caused by a makeshift jersey.
Georgia Tech entered the year with promise following a 7-6 campaign. The Yellow Jackets returned talent, led by starting quarterback Haynes King.
Last year, the squad picked up wins over notable conference foes to include Florida State, North Carolina, and Miami. It nearly knocked off rival Georgia in the regular season finale.
The momentum was expected to carry over into 2025. Unfortunately, the year got off to a rocky start.
Georgia Tech could not get out of its own way.
The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over three times on their first three offensive possessions of the season. They spotted Colorado a quick 7-0 lead.
They then created more self-inflicted wounds on special teams.
Georgia Tech fumbled the ball on two of its first six plays. King threw an interception the third time out.
The defense did its job to force a punt following the pick to keep the Buffs from going up two scores. Still, they were pinned deep in their own territory upon the change of possession.
The Yellow Jackets might have gained a few extra yards had it not been for an oversized jersey donned by return man Eric Rivers. An unplanned wardrobe switch proved costly.
Rivers, a transfer wideout that wears No. 3, was forced into a temporary number change with the team’s other No. 3, Ahmari Harvey, also being on the punt team.
Rivers is far from the largest player on the team. His new jersey was massive. It swallowed the 5-foot-11, 180-pound pass catcher up. It also allowed the Buffs to make a play as he tried to evade tacklers near the goal line.
Georgia Tech has my boy Rivers in that JV Jersey!! #GeorgiaTech #ColoradoBuffalos pic.twitter.com/QvEtV53G3k
— Josh Richter/ 4th and Five🏈 (@4THANDFIVEJOSH) August 30, 2025
The jersey resembled a parachute. It stretched far enough to keep him contained as he tried to break loose from a defender’s grasp.
The Yellow Jackets were pinned inside their own five-yard line as a result.
Brent Key was NOT happy!
He was asked about the uniform change in this week’s press conference. The coach vowed to retire the big Georgia Tech jersey after the game.
Elite back and forth between @MrChadBishop and @CoachBrentKeyGT on the GIANT #43 jersey from Friday night.
“You will not see that jersey ever again.” pic.twitter.com/hHAeKoqJ1v
— Luke Hetrick (@LHSportsTV) September 2, 2025
“At 6-4, 280 pounds, I could walk right through [the jersey] and not touch one side of the thing,” Key said. “You will not see that jersey ever again.”
Key has retired the oversized jersey. He’ll find a new solution for the punt return team moving forward.