First observations on the CU Buffs’ 34-7 win over the Arizona Wildcats in Big 12 play at Arizona Stadium.

Call Sean Payton: An onside kick attempt to start the game? Did Arizona head coach Brent Brennan consult with the Broncos’ Sean Payton earlier this week? A bold move, to say the least – although not a very wise one. It was almost as if Brennan knew exactly what was coming. There was no way the Wildcats’ leaky secondary was going to get enough stops to win this game…unless special teams could grab an extra possession or two. A strange message to send to your team before a ball is even snapped. But at least Brennan is a realist.

Weapons left: Who needs a running game when you have Shedeur Sanders and an endless stream of pass catchers? Certainly not CU against a defense like Arizona’s. Can’t you rush the passerby? Are you having trouble covering receivers one-on-one or attacking in space? Shedeur and the Buffs will eat you alive, whether it’s a third-and-long, a third-and-short or, in the case of the QB’s 14-yard strike to Travis Hunter in the first half, it’s fourth-and-10. Even if the Buffs average 2.3 yards on 22 attempts like they did in the first half, that’s enough. They still converted 8 of 11 third downs and put up 28 points. When all was said and done, LaJohntay Wester had eight catches for 127 yards. And he’s CU’s third or fourth best receiver? Yikes!

Livingston’s stock is rising: The stats may not be good for the Buffs’ defense – CU ranked 94th in the FBS in yards allowed and 73rd in points allowed entering Saturday – but the eye test shows Robert Livingston’s unit has one has an upward trend. And it’s happening on the front line – an area that was a notable problem last season. In two of the last three games, CU has held off one of the best rushing attacks in the country (UCF, 177 yards) and has harassed one of its most productive passers (Arizona’s Noah Fifita) with seven sacks, CU’s most since eight against Iowa State in 2010 . The Buffs now have 16 sacks in their last three games.

Heisman watch: This wasn’t a day to worry about Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy campaign. With CU’s two-way star clearly not 100% after suffering a loss in last week’s Kansas State loss, Coach Prime made the wise decision to leave Hunter in the final two quarters for “preventative measures.” keep away. CU already had a 28-7 lead, and Hunter’s lethal stat line (54 snaps, two receptions for 15 yards, one tackle) will soon be a footnote as long as he continues to produce a few more superhuman performances down the stretch. (Spoiler alert: He probably will.)