BOULDER — Colorado made a statement two weeks ago in Orlando.

As two touchdown underdogs, the Buffaloes boat raced Central Florida in a game that may have readjusted where Deion Sanders’ team sits in the Big 12 title race. They have a chance to make an even bigger statement this Saturday night.

No. 18 Kansas State, a bona fide conference title contender, brings a veteran group to Folsom Field in what is the biggest game of the season to date for Coach Prime and company.

CU leads the all-time series against K-State 45-20-1 and won the most recent meeting in November 2010.

It could be a wild end to what figures to be an epic day across college football. Here are five storylines to watch:

Both teams coming off a bye

The feeling going into the first bye week of 2024 and the lone bye week of 2023 couldn’t be more different for CU. Last year, the Buffs blew a 29-0 halftime lead in an overtime loss to Stanford ahead of its only bye week of the season. They didn’t win another game. This year, CU is coming off its most impressive win of the Coach Prime era. Will they be rusty or will there be some carry over from Orlando? The good news is that K-State is also coming off a bye week following an impressive win over Oklahoma State. Some first quarters miscues on both sides should be expected, but both teams should be back in the groove by the time the second quarter rolls around.

Containing Avery Johnson

The Buffs have faced their fair share of mobile quarterbacks this season, but the Wildcats’ stud sophomore is a different beast. Johnson is elusive and able to make plays on the run, something he did a lot of as he had five total touchdowns in his last game. But Johnson has been a different player at home versus on the road this season — his first as a full-time starter. Half of his four interceptions this season came in the team’s blowout loss at BYU last month. If the CU defense can prevent him from scrambling for big gains and keep him in the pocket, Johnson might just hand the Buffs the ball a few times.

The Buffs offensive line

The CU offensive line gave Shedeur Sanders all day to throw in the win over UCF two weeks ago. It was arguably the unit’s best performance of the season and a step in the right direction after Sanders was running for his life in the win over Baylor the week prior. This week against a veteran K-State front seven poses a different challenge, though, and just how well the offensive line plays could determine whether or not CU wins.

Shilo’s return

It’s not an exaggeration to say the Buffs defense hasn’t missed a beat since Shilo Sanders suffered an arm injury at Nebraska last month. The CU defense continues to take a step in the right direction week after week. That should only be boosted by the return of Shilo this Saturday night as the Buffs will be thrilled to get back one of the biggest voices and key leaders on the entire defense.

Special teams

The Buffs don’t need to be told how dangerous K-State’s punt and kickoff returner is. It’s Dylan Edwards, the former CU running back who’s now with the Wildcats. Edwards has already returned one punt for a touchdown this season and the Buffs have allowed plenty of big returns on both punts and kickoffs. Keeping Edwards in check and not allowing him any space to break off a big return will be important to keeping momentum on the CU sideline.

King’s prediction

Colorado 34, Kansas State 30

It’s not a hyperbole to say this is the biggest conference game at Folsom Field since 2016 — the year CU went to the Pac-12 title game. There are similar hopes in Boulder right now as the Buffs have some of the biggest stars in a Big 12 conference lacking a truly elite team. This is an opportunity to seize the moment and Coach Prime’s team gets it done in the clutch.