Know Wyoming’s Foe: Idaho Vandals
* University of Wyoming press release contributed to this report
LARAMIE -- The Wyoming Cowboys (0-1) will open the home portion of the 2024 schedule on Saturday, hosting Idaho (0-1) in Laramie. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on TruTV.
The contest will mark the 400th game in War Memorial Stadium and fans are encouraged to wear gold.
Ticket Information:
Fans may order tickets online, via email or by phone at:
•Go to GoWyo.com/tickets
•Email tickets@uwyo.edu
•Call (307) 766-7220
•Stop by the UW Athletics Ticket Office on the West Side of the Arena-Auditorium on the corner of Willett Drive and 19th Street.
Where to Watch:
Saturday’s contest will be televised on truTV and streamed on MAX with Ari Wolfe on the call and Darius Walker analyzing the action. truTV also runs a 30-minute pre and postgame show on the network.
Non-Conference Home Openers:
The Wyoming Cowboys have had a successful run-in non-conference home openers over the years. Wyoming earned a thrilling overtime win over Texas Tech last season in a contest on national television. Wyoming is 52-11-1 winning 82 percent of the non-conference home openers. UW has won four-straight non-conference home openers and five-straight home openers overall as UW defeated Hawai’i during the 2020 season.
Recent Wins in Non-Conference Home Openers:
Opponent Date Score
Texas Tech Sept. 2, 2023 W, 35-33 OT
Tulsa Sept. 3, 2022 W, 40-37 2OT
Montana State Sept. 4, 2021 W, 19-16
Mizzou Aug. 31, 2019 W, 37-31
The New Look War:
The War will look a little different on Saturday against Idaho. The renovations to the west side of War Memorial Stadium are moving along as scheduled. When complete, the experience for fans will be dramatically different with improved seating, wider rows, and improved concessions, restrooms and lighting. Furthermore, a renovation to the press box/media area will enhance the image of the university.
Against the Big Sky:
The Wyoming Cowboys have played eight of the current 12 football playing members of the Big Sky Conference and have a 63-14-3 record against those eight teams. Wyoming will face Idaho for the ninth time. UW is 7-1 all-time against the Vandals.
Wyoming's Wounded:
Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg missed the season opener in Tempe after rolling his ankle at a practice the week prior. His status for Saturday, though he sits atop the depth chart, is still unknown. Edge rusher DeVonne Harris (elbow) and left tackle Nate Geiger (knee) both went down with injuries at ASU. They are expected to miss an extended period of time. Safety Isaac White is also questionable for the Cowboys meeting with Idaho. Running back Dawaiian McNeely (knee) took live reps on Tuesday, according to Jay Sawvel, and could see his first action since the 2022 season. Fellow ball carrier Harrison Waylee (knee) is expected to miss at least the next two games. DJ Jones will again be the Cowboys starter in the backfield against the Vandals.
MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:
* Idaho will start back-up QB Saturday in Laramie
* Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of Idaho
* Wyoming's staff, players still have ultimate confidence in QB1
* Jay Sawvel receives death threat after Wyoming's opening loss
* Rants and Raves: Arizona State Edition
* Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for UW football
* Tuck's Take: How do the Pokes bounce back from this?
Hoyland Looking for History:
Senior kicker John Hoyland is once again being recognized as one of the elite place-kickers in college football. Hoyland was named to the 2024 Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List, which is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker as announced by the Palm Beach County Sport Commission. It marks the third-straight season that Hoyland has been named to the list. He was one of 30 players named to the preseason watch list. He has connected on 58 career field goals and is hitting at a rate of 79.5 percent. He is one field goal away from tying Cooper Rothe for the school record in career field goals.
Westland in Opener:
Defensive end Tyce Westland had a strong start to the season for the Cowboys. He recorded three tackles in the contest, including the first sack of the season for the Brown and Gold, in the first quarter. It was the first solo sack of his career. He recorded 18 total tackles a season ago with four-and-half of those being tackles for loss.
Siders Brings Pressure:
Defensive end Braden Siders added a sack for the first of the season for the junior at Arizona State. For his career, he has 11 sacks and has recorded 18.5 tackles for loss.
Durr Jr. Has Strong Debut:
True freshman Chris Durr, Jr. had a strong outing in his first career game. He led the Pokes with three catches on the night. He also hauled in his first career touchdown pass. Analyst and Cowboy Athletics Hall of Famer Jovon Boughknight caught a touchdown in his first career game as a redshirt freshman in 2002. He was the youngest wide receiver to catch a touchdown pass in the MW era until Durr, Jr.
Miles Stepping Up:
Tight end Nick Miles is a veteran and set up in the absence of John Michael Gyllenborg (ankle) at Arizona State. Miles hauled in a career-high two passes in the contest for the Cowboys.
Safety Tandem:
The safety tandem of Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White led the Cowboys in tackles at Arizona State with each player adding nine stops for the game. The duo has now combined for 331 career tackles. White has 171 in his career with Ekeler adding 160. White could miss Saturday's contest with an undisclosed injury.
A Veteran Makes and Impact:
Linebacker Connor Shay has made an impact for the Pokes in reserve and on special teams. He made his first career start at linebacker at Arizona State and recorded a career-high eight tackles in the contest. He had 15 total tackles last season for the Brown and Gold.
New Guys in the Interior:
The Cowboys had a couple of new faces make an impact in the interior of the defensive line at Arizona State. Jayden Williams and Jaden Williams each recorded a career-high four tackles. Jayden Williams, who appeared in his first career game recorded a tackle for loss as well. Dante Drake also appeared in his first-career game adding a tackle in the contest.
Culbreath Show Off Leg:
Grad student and VMI transfer Jack Culbreath made his debut for the Cowboys on Saturday. He punted the ball eight times averaging 47 yards per punt with three of 50 or more. He ranks seventh in the nation and leads the MW averaging 47 yards per punt.
About The Vandals:
Idaho, which entered the season ranked No. 7 in the preseason FCS poll, pushed No. 3 Oregon, an FBS powerhouse, to its limits in a 24-14 loss last Saturday at Autzen Stadium.
The Vandals limited explosive plays by the Ducks, who were held without a point over a 30-minute span after the new Big Ten member took an early 14-0 lead.
Jay Sawvel raved about Idaho's defense Monday during his weekly press conference.
"They're very experienced, very physical and they tackle very well," Wyoming's rookie head coach said. "I mean, they beat the dog out of Oregon, physically. I thought, in watching that game, you're sitting there and all of a sudden, you're kind of alarmed at how physical they were with them."
Quarterback Jack Layne threw a touchdown pass in the third quarter and ran for another score in the fourth quarter to get Idaho within 17-14 before Oregon held on. Keyshawn James-Newby had two sacks and forced a fumble and Jaxton Eck racked up 14 tackles to lead the defense.
Layne suffered a broken collarbone late in the fourth quarter and will be sidelined for "a while." Though Idaho does expect the signal caller to return at some point this season, Jack Wagner will be under center this Saturday in Laramie.
Wagner entered the game in mop-up duty and capped his afternoon with an incompletion and an interception on two attempts.
Wagner appeared in one game last fall, completing 4-of-5 throws for 41 yards and a touchdown against rival Idaho State. He added 42 yards on the ground on just three attempts. Nick Josifek, another redshirt freshman, will serve as Wagner's backup in Laramie.
This will be the second-consecutive week the Cowboys will face a signal caller making his first collegiate start. Arizona State's Sam Leavitt last Saturday connected on 14-of-22 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-7 rout inside Tempe's Mountain America Stadium. He also added 47 rushing yards in the win.
Wyoming leads the all-time series 7-1, but the Vandals have a history of pushing the Pokes to the limit. Craig Bohl’s 2019 team held on for a 21-16 home win, Dave Christensen’s 2012 team won a 40-37 shootout at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho, and Joe Tiller’s 1996 team outlasted Idaho 40-38 at War Memorial Stadium on the way to a 10-win season.
"We've got a very, very good team coming here this week," Sawvel said. "They have a very, very good head coach with Jason Eck, who's done a tremendous job at the University of Idaho. They are a top national championship competing FCS program. So this isn't some program that, you know, well, they may get to .500 or something like that. This is a serious team that can make a serious run."
The Vandals, who played at the FBS level from 2001-2017, were picked to finish third in the 12-team Big Sky in the coaches poll after reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season.
Meet the Vandals:
* Head coach: Jason Eck (3rd year) 16-10 overall record, 12-4 in Big Sky play
* Offensive coordinator: Luke Schleusner (2nd season); Defensive coordinator: Dan Jackson (1st season)
* Record in 2023: 9-4 overall, 6-2 in Big Sky Conference
* Offense in 2024: Average 14 ppg, 217 ypg (49 rush, 168 pass)
* Defense in 2024: Allow 24 ppg, 487 ypg (107 rush, 380 pass)
* Key Returners/ Newcomers - Offense: Jack Wagner (QB - 0-2, INT; 2 rush, 5 yds), Elisha Cummings (RB - 8 rush, 43 yds; 2 catch, 35 yds), Nate Thomas (RB - 2 rush, 10 yds; catch, 16 yds), Mark Hamper (WR - 3 catch, 57 yds), Jordan Dwyer (WR - 2 catch, 19 yds), Jake Cox (TE - catch, 36 yds, TD)
* Key Returners - Defense: Jaxton Eck (LB - 14 tackles), Tommy McCormick (DB - 11 tackles), Isiah King (LB - 9 tackles), Andrew Marshall (DB - 9 tackles, PBU), Mathias Bertram (LB - 8 tackles), Keyshawn James-Newby (DL - 6 tackles, 2 sack, FF), Dallas Afalava (DB - 3 tackles, sack, FR)
* Injuries: Jack Layne (QB - 11-25, 168 yds, TD, INT; 8 rush, -9 yards, TD)
Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Saturday's tilt in Laramie:
WHO: Idaho (0-1, 0-0) at Wyoming (0-1, 0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 80, low 49, mostly sunny, wind 9 mph
WHERE: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo. (29,181 capacity)
TRAVEL: WyoRoad
STREAMING: MAX
TV: TruTV
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
TICKETS: Wyoming Ticket office
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Idaho
HISTORY: Wyoming leads the all-time series, 7-1
BETTING ODDS: N/A
HEAD COACHES: Jay Sawvel / Jason Eck
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players