Colorado weather is once again refusing to cooperate with Deion Sanders’ spring games.

It snowed at the sold-out Coach Prime debut in 2023. It was chilly and wet at the 2024 spring game. Saturday’s will feature leftover snow and slush and a high temperature that probably won’t crack 50 degrees.

But that’s fine with the Buffaloes, who will mark the start of a new era at Folsom Field. Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders will be there to see their jerseys get retired, but their days in black and gold are done.

Here are five storylines to watch:

The quarterback battle

Pat Shurmur wants the competition between Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and five-star freshman Julian Lewis (and returning backup Ryan Staub, too) to go all the way until the season opener against Georgia Tech. It’s hard to imagine either one will win the job in an intra-squad scrimmage where they’re not allowed to be hit, but it’s the final showcase they’ll each have until the team reconvenes in the summer. Salter is more of a weapon with his legs than Shedeur Sanders was the last two seasons, whereas Lewis is a more prototypical pocket passer with elite ball placement skills for a 17-year old. Don’t count out Staub, though, who still has a better understanding of the offense and has impressed this spring.

The new-look secondary

The Buffs have holes to fill across the defense. B.J. Green was a really productive player at defensive end. Both starting defensive tackles and both starting linebackers are gone. But no bigger holes are there to fill than in the secondary — and not even at Hunter’s outside cornerback spot. Colton Hood saw plenty of action last season and should slot in there. It’s Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig’s safety spot that has the biggest, most glaring hole. He was the heart and soul of Robert Livingston’s defense in 2024 and now the combination of Carter Stoutmire, South Florida transfer Tawfiq Byard, walk-on Ben Finneseth and others will be tasked with replacing his impact on the field and in the locker room.

An improved run game

Coach Prime said it emphatically: CU will be better at running the ball in 2025. In reality, there’s nowhere to go but up after the Buffs ranked dead last nationally in rushing yards per game the last two seasons. Leading rusher Isaiah Augustave left the program, but there are talented players in the running back room and the Buffs are likely to add another player or two out of the transfer portal this spring. That and improved coaching on both the offensive line and at running back with Marshall Faulk in the fold should help Shurmur commit to the run game this fall.

The young wide receivers

The Buffs are about to lose a quartet of wide receivers to the NFL draft next weekend. All four of Hunter, Will Sheppard, LaJohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn Jr. will be fighting for a spot in the league this summer as the Buffs look to continue developing their talent on the outside. Returners like sophomore Drelon Miller and junior Omarion Miller are a good place to start. Both have shown lots of promise and potential to be the next elite pass catchers at CU and could quickly become household names in 2025.

Special teams improvement

Sanders said CU could stand to improve at just about every position on the roster during the spring transfer portal window — with one exception. For the first time in his tenure with the Buffs, Coach Prime feels good about his entire special teams unit. Kansas transfer Damon Greaves has seamlessly replaced Mark Vassett at punter and Louisiana Tech transfer Buck Buchanan finally gives the Buffs someone who can regularly put the ball through the back of the endzone on kickoffs. Both guys should be able to showcase that on Saturday.