CU Buffs vs. Utah Utes quick hits: Deion Sanders’ Buffs on beeline for College Football Playoff

BOULDER — Initial observations from CU’s 49-24 win over Utah in Big 12 action at Folsom Field on Saturday.

Straight line to the playoff. A bid to the College Football Playoff — a feat that before the season would’ve been considered outlandish by many pundits, including here at The Denver Post  — is right in the Buffs’ palm. They’ll be favored in their final two games on the road at Kansas and at home against Oklahoma State. Avoid a letdown, and they’re in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 7 in Arlington, most likely against BYU. Recall how last week, the Utah team that CU just crushed took the Cougars down to the wire in a game the Utes should’ve won. A Big 12 title and automatic berth in the CFP is there for the taking.

Quarterback disparity. The gap between each team’s QB on Saturday was enormous. Even with Shedeur Sanders gifting the Utes with a pair of uncharacteristic miscues (interception on first play, fumbled snap) that led to two field goals, Utes QB Isaac Wilson couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn in the first half. That included missing a wide-open man on a would-be TD down the middle of the field. Zach Wilson’s younger brother settled in as the game progressed, but then threw a bad INT in the fourth to end Utah’s comeback attempt. Sanders, meanwhile, spread the ball around and finished 31 of 40 for 340 yards and three TDs — again looking like a first-round pick.

Buffs’ array of weapons. Travis Hunter had several Heisman moments but only a mediocre day receiving by his standards (five catches for 55 yards). No matter: Even with Jimmy Horn Jr. sidelined, Saturday again proved few teams have the secondary depth to properly cover all of the Buffs’ dynamic pass-catchers. Will Sheppard had five catches for 71 yards and two TDs, including an impressive first-quarter score to jump-start CU. LaJohntay Wester had 10 for 77, plus a game-breaking punt return TD. And true freshman Drelon Miller (six for 108, one TD) is coming into his own.

Buzz keeps building in Boulder. The sellouts continue at Folsom Field, as 54,646 packed the stadium on Saturday for the fourth-largest crowd ever for a CU home game. With one home game remaining against Big 12 cellar dweller OSU on Nov. 29, the atmosphere this fall has been among the greatest, if not the greatest, in the stadium’s 101-year history. Aside from the Buffs’ beatdown of Utah and Hunter’s multiple Heisman poses, Saturday’s must-see moment came in the second half when the crowd sang happy birthday to superfan Peggy Coppom, who turns 100 on Tuesday. Coppom cried with joy. She wasn’t the only one.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.