A crowd of about 54,000 people is expected to fill Folsom Field for Saturday’s sold-out University of Colorado Homecoming game, and authorities are planning for just as many potential problems.

Police and university officials are bracing for the anticipated crowd and the mischief that such high-profile night games in Boulder often bring.

Authorities do not want a repeat of the rowdy atmosphere experienced Sept. 18, when the Buffs routed West Virginia 17-14 in overtime in the first night game of the season.

During that game, CU police ejected 65 people — nearly three times as many as at CU’s first home game this season and more than double the number at last year’s night game.

CU police Cmdr. Brad Wiesley said in the aftermath that there were more reports of fights than he’s ever heard at a game — something officers will be on the lookout for Saturday.

“That was not something that’s been typical in the past,” Wiesley said. “The volume we had for West Virginia ... it’s really hard to say if that was a one-game anomaly.”

As many as 85 police officers from CU and neighboring jurisdictions will patrol the Texas game, Wiesley said, which is about five more than a typical home CU game. In addition, about 300 private event staff members will be inside to supplement the force.

Wiesley said alcohol has fueled most of the problems police have encountered so far this academic year.

“For whatever reason, so far this year appears to be one filled with alcohol,” he said.

Bronson Hilliard, a CU spokesman, said the college offered free pizza on University Hill during the West Virginia game in an effort to detox some students with bellies full of booze. University officials, he said, have also been working to make students aware of the consequences of alcohol violations.

Boulder police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley said despite the overflowing number of people who spilled into the University Hill and downtown Boulder areas after the West Virginia matchup, city police were otherwise “pleasantly surprised” by the lack of major incidents.

“Things went more smoothly than we anticipated,” Huntley said.

She said city officers have not been asked by CU police to provide any extra patrols Saturday beyond what the agency normally prepares for, although some officers will be stationed in neighborhoods near Folsom Field to look for parking and alcohol violations.

“We feel like the plan we’ve had in place for awhile has been successful,” she said.

As with most large events in town, the police SWAT team also will be on standby to handle any serious problems, Huntley said.

Police, CU officials and planners have also collaborated to reduce the impact of the Homecoming concert scheduled for 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday night at Farrand Field.

Neighbors in the area complained about excessive noise following the Aug. 23 New Student Welcome Concert at Farrand Field. In response, an independent audio engineer has tweaked the speakers to direct more noise at concert-goers on the field and away from nearby neighborhoods.