The Jay Sawvel era got off to a rough start at Wyoming. He replaced longtime head coach Craig Bohl last season and the team went 3-9, recording its fewest wins in a full season since it managed just two in 2015. Wyoming also won two games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
A number of factors contributed to the Cowboys’ fall to the bottom of the Mountain West, but none more so than an anemic offense that ranked No. 11 in the 12-team conference with 19.3 points a game. Wyoming also ranked No. 11 in the league with 327.3 total yards a game and No. 10 with 189.4 passing yards a game.
The Cowboys expect to improve on those numbers thanks to the return of a promising, young quarterback who is surrounded by experienced playmakers. A handful of new players will have to make a quick impact on defense, and a workhorse running back must emerge, but Wyoming is focused on getting back to the form it showed with a 9-4 campaign in 2023.
Wyoming Football’s Mountain West Title Betting Odds
Wyoming’s odds to win the Mountain West are +3500, via BetMGM.
Wyoming Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Wyoming’s win total Over/Under is 5.5.
- Under 5.5 is at -175.
- Over 5.5 is at +145.
Wyoming Football’s 2025 Schedule
Aug. 28 @ Akron
Sept. 6 vs. Northern Iowa
Sept. 13 vs. Utah
Sept. 20 at Colorado
Oct. 4 vs. UNLV
Oct. 11 vs. San Jose State
Oct. 18 @ Air Force
Oct. 25 vs. Colorado State
Nov. 1 @ San Diego State
Nov. 15 @ Fresno State
Nov. 22 vs. Nevada
Nov. 29 @ Hawaii
Bold indicates Mountain West games
Key Wyoming Football Returners
2024 All-Mountain West 2nd Team
TE John Michael Gyllenborg
OL Jack Walsh
Honorable Mention
WR Jaylen Sargent
Wyoming Football 2025 Preview
Wyoming built its reputation with a hard-nosed approach on both sides of the ball. It’s known for a bruising rushing attack and for having no shortage of old-school linebackers, but this year’s crop of Cowboys has a chance to stretch the field in the passing game like few have done before.
Anderson Is A Year Wiser
Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson played in nine games and started three last season while splitting snaps with Evan Svoboda, who has since moved to tight end.
It’s Anderson’s show this year, and he’ll try to continue the efficient passing attack that got fans excited last season. He completed 58.3% of his passes while racking up 955 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.
There isn’t much behind him in terms of experience. The rest of the Cowboys’ quarterback room includes sophomores Landon Sims and Gage Brook and freshman Mason Drube.
New-Look Passing Game?
The Cowboys’ offenses of the past haven’t exactly been explosive, but this may be the year that changes. Wyoming returns its top three receivers from last season, including Jaylen Sargent, who caught 23 passes and averaged 20.9 yards per catch a year ago.
Slot receiver Chris Durr Jr. is back after he led the team with 31 catches last fall, and Anderson once again has the services of one of the top tight ends in the Mountain West in 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior John Michael Gyllenborg. He was No. 2 on the team with 30 catches and 425 yards and led the Cowboys with three touchdown receptions last fall.
Standout Running Backs
Wyoming isn’t breaking with tradition when it comes to the backfield. The running back room is full of big, physical backs, and they’re running behind an experienced offensive line, led by center/guard Jack Walsh.
Last year’s rushing leader, 230-pound Sam Scott, is back, but he missed spring practice while rehabbing an injury. He’s joined this season by a pair of transfers: 224-pound Damashja Harris (North Texas) and 210-pound Terron Kellman, who posted 570 rushing yards over the past two seasons at Charlotte.
Who Will Lead The Defense?
Wyoming’s blue collar approach is usually exemplified in the play of its unquestioned leader on defense. Recent examples include linebackers Logan Wilson, Chad Muma, and Easton Gibbs, all of whom are on NFL rosters. Last year, it was linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, who led the team with 88 tackles.
The Cowboys’ latest defensive phenom has yet to emerge, but there’s a good chance he wasn’t on the roster last season.
A trio of transfers will get a chance to continue the team’s tradition of being led by a game-wrecking linebacker. Ethan Stuhlsatz missed all but two games because of injury last season, but he led Lindenwood with 70 tackles in 2023. Brayden Johnson led Oklahoma Baptist with 71 tackles last fall, and Enock Sibomana was tied for second at North Dakota State with 56 tackles.
Andrew Johnson and Jones Thomas are athletic, young safeties who have a chance to grab the reins of the defense, but they’ll have to fend off experienced transfer Desman Hearns, who posted 85 tackles and three interceptions in two seasons at Southern Illinois.
Wyoming Football Season Prediction
I don’t predict Wyoming will win the Mountain West Championship, and I predict the Cowboys will win fewer than 5.5 games.
The offense should be better, especially if one or two of those big, bruising running backs can stay healthy enough to have a good season. The defense is full of question marks as transfers will fill key roles and the unit will search for a pass rusher who will strike fear in an offense.
Wyoming’s biggest question mark may be its daunting schedule, which includes games against Utah and Colorado in non-conference action. The Cowboys’ Mountain West slate begins with consecutive games against UNLV, San Jose State, and Air Force and ends with road trips to San Diego State, Fresno State, and Hawaii in three of its final four games.
