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

Straight line to the play-off. A bid to the College Football Playoff — a feat that would have been considered outlandish by many pundits before the season, including here at The Denver Post — is right in the palm of the Buffs. They are favored in their final two games on the road at Kansas and at home against Oklahoma State. Avoid a disappointment and they’ll play the Big 12 title game on Dec. 7 in Arlington, most likely against BYU. Remember how last week the Utah team that CU just crushed pushed the Cougars to the limit in a game the Utes should have won. A Big 12 title and an automatic spot in the CFP are up for grabs.

Quarterback disparity. The gap between each team’s QB on Saturday was enormous. Even when Shedeur Sanders gifted the Utes with a pair of uncharacteristic miscues (interception on the first play, fumble) that led to two field goals, Utes QB Isaac Wilson couldn’t hit the wide side of a barn in the first half. That included missing a wide open man on a potential TD in the middle of the field. Zach Wilson’s younger brother saw action 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 touchdowns — another pick that looked like a first-round pick.

Buffs’ arsenal of weapons. Travis Hunter had several Heisman moments, but just an average receiving day by his standards (five catches for 55 yards). It doesn’t matter: even now Jimmy Horn Jr. was sidelined, proved again Saturday that 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 touchdowns, including an impressive score in the first quarter to jump-start CU. LaJohntay Wester was 10 for 77, plus a game-changing punt return TD. And true freshman Drelon Miller (six for 108, one TD) is coming into his own.

Buzz continues to build in Boulder. The sellout at Folsom Field continues as 54,646 spectators filled the stadium 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 was one of the greatest, if not the best, in the stadium’s 101-year history. Aside from the Buffs’ rout 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.