Why Deion Sanders' smashing of Utah makes loud statement for Colorado's CFP bracket hopes

As the playoff becomes Coach Prime real estate and the heat lifts on Billy Napier down in Florida, Indiana enjoys an opportunity to provide clarity to the College Football Playoff bubble.

Playoff longshots Kansas State, LSU and Missouri exited the stage, while Brigham Young’s loss to Kansas made it increasingly likely the Big 12 will finish as a one-bid league.

No. 1 Oregon reaffirmed its Big Ten bona fides by winning despite scoring only 16 points.

As conference commissioners prepare to work the propaganda circuit, with CFP selection day less than three weeks away, here’s what’s left on my mind after Week 12:

Are Deion Sanders and Colorado for real?

The Buffaloes are real, and Travis Hunter is spectacular.

A reminder: Colorado won one stinkin’ game the season before it hired Deion Sanders. Only Coach Prime’s staunchest acolytes could have fathomed he’d have Colorado (8-2) knocking on the door of the playoff in his second season.

Transfer additions unlocked necessary improvements at the lines of scrimmage.

Nobody will confuse Colorado with 2021 Georgia, but quarterback Shedeur Sanders benefits from better pass protection than last season, at least, and the defensive line doesn’t invite running backs to cruise on past.

Hunter’s myriad of talents serve as an ace up the sleeve.

Colorado’s 49-24 smashing of Utah struck me as substantial not because the Utes are a quality opponent – they’ve now lost six in a row – but because Kyle Whittingham’s program signifies everything Colorado lacked last season.

Whittingham built the Utes’ brand on stability and toughness, while Prime’s Buffaloes carried a reputation for being all mouth and no trousers, even as wins piled up this season. Well, Colorado donned its coveralls in a workmanlike shredding of what had been the Big 12’s best defense.

Pair Shedeur Sanders’ abilities with talented receivers, and that elevates Colorado's floor, but this isn’t flag football. A team needs a level of competence at the line of scrimmage, and Colorado improved enough in those areas that it can whip a lunch pail opponent.

“We are coming,” Deion Sanders said afterward, “and we ain’t nearly there yet.”

True, still not there as a national championship contender, but nearly there as the king of the Big 12’s slippery hill.

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How substantially did Tennessee hurt its CFP chances with Georgia loss?

Well, Tennessee’s 31-17 loss in Athens certainly didn’t help. Tennessee didn’t get blown out, so that’s something, but in a logjam of SEC contenders in which the playoff might only house room for four qualifiers, the Volunteers just don’t overwhelm evaluators with either résumé or eye test.

Georgia didn’t take a two-score lead until late in the fourth quarter, but the Vols legitimized concerns about their offense’s limitations, and the defense that had carried Tennessee to this point went out with a whimper.

If the playoff started today, the Vols would struggle to find a perch, and they’re out of chances to add another marquee victory.

That’s the bad news for Tennessee.

The good news: The playoff doesn’t start today, and Tennessee wouldn’t need another signature win if it receives some help within the next two weeks.

Start by beating Texas-El Paso and Vanderbilt. That’s non-negotiable. Then, pair that with Florida upsetting Mississippi.

Or, Notre Dame loses to either Army or Southern California.

Or, Penn State loses to Minnesota or Maryland.

Or, Ohio State bludgeons Indiana.

Or, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey changes the playoff format by December to create even more spots for his conference. Just kidding about that last suggestion, but you get the idea.

Tennessee surrendered control of its postseason destination by withering against Georgia, but it retains hope.

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Just how murky is the SEC championship matchup?

Not that murky. Follow along.

If Texas A&M and Texas win their games against Auburn and Kentucky, respectively, on Saturday, that creates additional clarity. In that case, the Thanksgiving weekend game between Texas and Texas A&M would determine one SEC championship game spot, while Alabama stands first in line for the other spot in Atlanta.

If the Aggies and Longhorns each find losses before the SEC championship, that brings Georgia into the picture alongside Alabama.

Ole Miss and Tennessee are the SEC’s two-loss teams least likely to reach Atlanta. In the Rebels’ case, that counts as a blessing. They likely will be in the playoff field if they reach 10-2, so why risk a loss in Atlanta?

Should we take Dabo Swinney’s CFP pitch seriously?

One of the great things about our country is that you can say somewhat goofy things that you don’t even know if you believe yourself, without facing much retribution beyond a bit of mockery.

I give you Dabo Swinney.

After Clemson pulled off an improbable escape in a 24-20 victory against Pittsburgh, a reporter asked Swinney about Clemson’s playoff case. Presumably, that meant at-large playoff selection, because if Clemson won the ACC, that would cement a berth.

Swinney answered with a rambling response that amounted to: Sure, why not?

“We’re 8-2. It’s hard to win,” Swinney said. “We’re undefeated on the road. … We got one freaking loss in this league.”

Plus, a blowout non-conference loss at the hands of Georgia, which itself has two losses.

Oh, and that league loss came at home against a middling Louisville. Clemson laid an egg. That result, more than the setback against Georgia, pushed Clemson into a corner, and there’s no way out other than through the ACC championship. Clemson would need help to get there.

SMU and Miami stand ahead of Clemson in the ACC standings, and as much as I doubt the committee will take two ACC teams, I know it won’t have room for three. Three-loss Pitt team now registers as Clemson’s best win.

“We’re in the fight,” Swinney said. “That’s all you can ask for.”

Unless SMU or  Miami stumbles, Clemson will watch the fight for ACC supremacy while kicking itself for losing to Louisville.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deion Sanders, Colorado make CFP statement with Utah domination