Wyoming Cowboys Football: A Storied History

The Wyoming Cowboys football program represents the University of Wyoming in NCAA college football. As a member of the Mountain West Conference (MWC) within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I, Wyoming boasts a rich history marked by conference titles, memorable rivalries, and a tradition of producing notable football figures.

Program Overview

The Cowboys compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I and have won 14 conference titles. The team plays its home games in War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming. With an elevation exceeding 7,200 feet (2,195 m) above sea level, it is the highest Division I FBS football stadium in the nation. Prior to War Memorial Stadium, the Cowboys played at Corbett Field, a small field located southeast of Half Acre Gym where the Business Building and the Student Union parking lot now sit. It was named for John J. Corbett, longtime all-sport coach and director of physical education at the school.

Currently, Jay Sawvel is the head coach, entering his second season in 2025 after serving as the program's Defensive Coordinator for the previous four seasons.

The Cowboy football program has been among the most notable of "stepping stone" programs due to the success of its former coaches. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.

Early Years and Rise to Prominence

The Wyoming Cowboys began their football journey as an independent program in 1893. They later joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1916. After struggling for much of the first half of the century, Wyoming football rose to regional power status in the late 1940s. Between 1949 and 1961, the Cowboys won the Mountain States Conference championship seven times, including four in a row under coach Bob Devaney from 1958 to 1961.

Conference Championships and WAC Era

In 1962, Wyoming joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), marking a new chapter in the program's history. Under the leadership of coach Lloyd Eaton, the Cowboys added three more championships from 1966 to 1968. Wyoming won the Western Athletic Conference's Pacific division championship in 1996 and lost in the league's championship game.

Move to the Mountain West Conference

The Cowboys became a part of the newly formed Mountain West Conference in 1999, continuing their pursuit of conference titles and national recognition.

Bowl Game Appearances

The Cowboys have appeared in 19 bowl games and have a record of ten wins and nine losses (10-9). Their most recent bowl appearance was a 30 - 27 overtime loss to Ohio in the 2022 Arizona Bowl. They will play the Toledo Rockets in the 2023 Arizona Bowl on December 30, 2023 for their 19th Bowl game.

Rivalries

Wyoming has three main rivalries, each with Mountain West opponents.

The Border War: Wyoming vs. Colorado State

The Bronze Boot is awarded to the winner of the college football game between Wyoming and Colorado State Rams in nearby Fort Collins, Colorado. Laramie and Fort Collins are only about 65 miles apart. The annual game has evolved into one of the most bitterly contested rivalries in college football. The teams have waged the "Border War" over 100 times since the schools began playing in 1899, playing every year except 1901, 1902, 1906, 1907, 1918, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1943, 1944, and 1945. This is one of the oldest interstate rivalries west of the Mississippi River. Until the 1949 game, CSU led the series 30-5-5. From the 1949 game onward, Wyoming has a record of 46-29 against the Rams.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

The Paniolo Trophy: Wyoming vs. Hawaii

The Paniolo Trophy is awarded to the winner of the college football games played between Wyoming and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football. This rivalry started in 1979 when Hawaii joined the Western Athletic Conference conference and was played annually until 1997, shortly before Wyoming joined the newly formed Mountain West Conference. Hawaii joined the MWC as a football-only affiliate member in 2012, renewing the rivalry.

Bridger's Battle: Wyoming vs. Utah State

Bridger's Battle is the name for the games played between Wyoming and Utah State, the winner is awarded the trophy of the rivalry, a .50 caliber Rocky Mountain Hawken rifle. The rivalry started in 1903, and renewed as an annual game in 2013 when Utah State joined the Mountain West Conference. However, with divisions going away in 2023, this streak of annual meetings ended.

Other Rivalries

Wyoming and Brigham Young have played each other 79 times, with BYU leading the series 46-30-3. BYU was arguably[editorializing] Wyoming's second biggest rival until BYU left the Mountain West to become an independent in 2011. Utah and Wyoming have played each other 85 times, which makes Utah Wyoming's most played opponent outside of Colorado State. Similar to the BYU series, the rivalry took a major blow when Utah left the MWC in 2010. UW's record against the Utes is 32-51-1 as of 2023.[as of?] New Mexico and Wyoming have played each other 76 times. The Lobos and Cowboys have faced off every year since 1949 except for a 4-year stretch from 1995 to 1998. Air Force and Wyoming have played each other a total of 61 times as of 2023.[as of?] Their proximity has made them division rivals in multiple conferences. Two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year Mitch Donahue once said “I hated them more than CSU. They were good, fast and little. They would bite at your heels all the time.”[This quote needs a citation] In 1998, #23 Air Force defeated number #25 Wyoming to win the WAC championship 10-7. In 2012 after Air Force defeated Wyoming, former Wyoming coach Dave Christensen went on a profanity-laced tirade about Air Force coach Troy Calhoun that drew national attention and a $50,000 fine for Christensen.

Notable Players and Figures

The Wyoming Cowboys football program has been home to numerous talented players and influential figures who have left their mark on the sport.

Mike Dirks (born 1946): A defensive tackle and part of one of college football's best defenses in 1966 and 1967. He was selected as an All-American and All-Western Athletic Conference performer. He co-captained Wyoming's 1967 WAC Championship football team that finished fifth in the nation. Led the Cowboys to a 10-1 record and berth in the 1968 Sugar Bowl. He was part of the Cowboys line that was the nation's best rushing defense for two consecutive seasons. No team in the nation has since allowed fewer rushing yards than the 1966 and 1967 Wyoming defenses. Dirks produced 71 tackles, 30 unassisted tackles, and 26 tackles for a loss.
Adam Goldberg (born 1980): An NFL offensive tackle. He became only the third junior in University of Wyoming football history to be elected a team captain when he was voted a captain by his teammates in the spring of 2001. He was Honorable Mention All-America and two-time First-team All-Mountain West Conference.
Jerry Hill (born 1939): A running back, was selected as Wyoming's Football Player of the Century during fan balloting in 1992. He was selected as an All-Skyline Conference running back in 1959 and 1960. In those two seasons, Hill was Wyoming's leading rusher. During his career, the Cowboys posted a 25-6 record. Hill was a member of the club that won the 1958 Sun Bowl. His career would finish with 1,374 rushing yards on 288 carries.
Jim Kiick (1946-2020): A running back and Wyoming's leading rusher for each of his three seasons, 1965-67. He totalled 1,714 yards and ten touchdowns on 431 carries, and 561 yards and five touchdowns on 52 pass receptions. He was the first player ever to earn first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors three times. Kiick was co-captain of the team as a senior. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 Sun Bowl victory over Florida State, rushing 25 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and catching four passes for 42 yards. He also played in the 1968 Sugar Bowl against LSU, rushing 19 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, and catching five passes for 48 yards.
Marv Levy (born 1925): A defensive back. Levy attended Wyoming for a single semester following his stint as a meteorologist in World War II. The coach who had originally recruited him, Bunny Oakes, had left prior to the season; Bowden Wyatt, who succeeded Oakes, imposed a round-the-clock training regimen that did not allow Levy enough time to devote to his academic studies.
Jay Novacek (born 1962): A tight end. He was a two sport All-American at Wyoming, also excelling in track. He was the Wyoming record holder in the decathlon and pole vault. As a football player, he was selected to the Kodak All-American football team in 1984. The selection was attributed to setting an NCAA record for receiving yards per receptions by a tight end. Novacek finished his Cowboys career with 83 career receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns as a tight end. He was inducted in the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
Josh Allen (born 1996): A quarterback. A late recruit in 2015, Allen led the team to its first appearance in the Mountain-West Conference championship game in 2016 and two bowl games, receiving All-Mountain West honors. He finished his Wyoming career with 5,066 passing yards, 44 passing touchdowns, and 56 overall touchdowns, which rank in the top five for Wyoming Cowboys passing statistics. He was drafted 7th overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, becoming the highest drafted player in Wyoming Cowboys history.

Jerry Hill, Admiral Emory S. C.T.

Traditions

"Ragtime Cowboy Joe"

In 1891 - two years before the first official football game. cowpuncher, Fred Bush, for help in a game against the Cheyenne Soldiers. out for the team. the team were also ex-cowboys, the name stuck.

"Steamboat"

a young pony to become Wyoming's mascot. very popular with Cowboy fans of all ages. bucking horse. world famous bucking horse Steamboat. County Fairgrounds in 1903. bucking horses ever. athletic teams. horse and rider. important. never-say-die spirit that is Wyoming. in 1991. The statue is of a bucking horse and rider.

School Colors

held. native of Southeastern Wyoming. decided to select these colors as the official school colors at UW. recent years the colors have been modified to brown and gold.

2025 Season Outlook

Based on available information, here's a glimpse into the Wyoming Cowboys' 2025 season:

2025 Mountain West Standings (Projected)

Team	CONF	OVR
UNLV	2-0	6-0
San Diego State	2-0	5-1
Boise State	2-0	4-2
Fresno State	2-1	5-2
Hawai'i	2-1	5-2
Utah State	2-1	4-3
Wyoming	1-1	3-3
Colorado State	1-1	2-4
San José State	1-2	2-5
New Mexico	0-2	3-3
Nevada	0-2	1-5
Air Force	0-4	1-5

2025 Team Leaders

Passing Yards: Kaden Anderson (QB #12) - 1,269
Passing Touchdowns: Kaden Anderson (QB #12) - 8
Rushing Yards: Samuel Harris (RB #26) - 315
Rushing Touchdowns: Samuel Harris (RB #26) - 1
Receiving Yards: Chris Durr Jr. (WR #13) - 318
Receiving Touchdowns: Chris Durr Jr. (WR #13) - 3

2025 Team Statistics

Passing Yards: 216.3 (83rd)
Rushing Yards: 142.0 (88th)
Points For: 19.8 (117th)
Points Against: 22.3 (Tied-56th)

2026 Recruits

Therman Williams (CB) - Committed (Grade: 73)
Savion Bandy (S) - Committed (Grade: 73)
Taylor Hasselbeck (QB-PP) - Committed (Grade: 72)
Ishmael Muhammad (TE-H) - Committed (Grade: 44)
Colin Ford (TE-Y) - Committed (Grade: 44)

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