Wyoming, Toledo Meet In Arizona Bowl

For the second consecutive season, Wyoming will meet the MAC runner-up in the Arizona Bowl.

Last year, the Cowboys were outlasted by Ohio when backup QB CJ Harris connected with Tyler Foster for the 30-27 overtime victory. This year, the Cowboys draw Toledo, who fell to Miami (Ohio) 23-14 in the MAC title game.

And just like last year, Wyoming will also see the backup for the MAC Player of the Year. 

Harris started in the 2022 Arizona Bowl for an injured Kurtis Rourke, who tore his ACL late in the season before being named the league’s POY. This year’s POY, Toledo QB Dequan Finn, announced earlier this month he will be transferring to Baylor. Tucker Gleason will now be starting for the Rockets on Saturday.

College football betting odds initially listed the Rockets as the favorite in this one, but since the Finn news, the line now has Wyoming as a 3.5-point favorite.

Even though the odds have shifted, and Toledo will be without Finn, the Cowboys still can’t disregard Gleason. 

And now, Gleason will need to be relied on more after Peny Boone announced this week he is entering the transfer portal.

The sophomore RB led the MAC with 1,400 yards and 15 rushing scores this season. He was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and was a big reason why Toledo averages 33.6 points and 426.3 YPG.

UW hasn’t exactly been the greatest at stopping quality backs this season. Outside of Air Force — who is almost certain to have at least one 100-yard rusher each game — the top RBs the Cowboys have faced have eclipsed the century mark.

Texas’ Jonathon Brooks rushed for 164 yards while App State’s Nate Noel rushed for 107 and New Mexico’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt finished with 103. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty had 56 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter.

Boone could have been a problem for Wyoming, but now Jacquez Stuart will look to fill that void and has the potential to still cause issues for UW’s defense. Stuart rushed for 475 yards and six scores on just 101 carries this season, proving he can get the job done.

Gleason has also proven himself when he’s had the chance. In Week 4, he replaced an injured Finn and led the Rockets to a come-from-behind win over Western Michigan, passing for 109 yards and two TDs. 

He should keep the Wyoming defense honest.

Expectations from Wyoming’s offense

Much like the Rockets, the Cowboys are also likely to lean on their run game and RB Harrison Waylee. 

Waylee’s 95 rushing YPG ranked fourth in the Mountain West, but he only appeared in nine games because of injuries. He should be refreshed and explosive against Toledo’s rush defense, which allows 146 YPG.

Wyoming QB Andrew Peasley passes for just 165 passing YPG, so it’s likely the Rockets try to make Peasley beat them with his arm.

Former UW offensive coordinator Tim Polasek has moved on to be the head coach at North Dakota State. That shouldn’t have any impact on what the Cowboys want to do offensively, but perhaps we could see some interesting play calls sprinkled in.

Motivated Cowboys

In a surprising move, UW coach Craig Bohl announced earlier this month that Saturday’s game would be his last after a 10-year stint on the Cowboys sideline.

This alone brings a ton of motivation for the players and the coaching staff to send out Bohl on a high note. The coach currently has a 60-60 record, meaning a win would put him over .500.

Toledo-Wyoming Prediction

This Wyoming team is very similar to the team that lost in this same situation last season. 

It’s a different story this year, though. Behind all of the emotion with Bohl retiring and the program wanting to get some redemption after losing in last year’s Arizona Bowl, I think the Cowboys will be a little bit hungrier than the Rockets and will find a way to win and cover the 3.5 points. 

Toledo was among the favorites to represent the Group of Five in the New Year’s Six bowls just over a month ago, but without their two biggest offensive threats, I don’t see the Rockets heading home with a trophy.