Wyoming
Wyoming debuts new coach against Arizona State, which plays first football game as Big 12 member
Wyoming at Arizona State, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 6 1/2.
Series record: Arizona State leads 9-6.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Wyoming gets a juicy opportunity to knock off a program from a power conference when it travels to Arizona State, which is still rebuilding under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham. The Cowboys will be led by first-year coach Jay Sawvel, who takes over for the retired Craig Bohl. Sawvel has been the program’s offensive coordinator since 2020. Arizona State plays its first football game as a member of the Big 12, joining Arizona, Utah and Colorado in their move from the Pac-12. The Sun Devils hope to build some momentum under Dillingham after two straight 3-9 seasons.
KEY MATCHUP
Wyoming’s defense might have a tough task against a seasoned Arizona State offensive line. All five projected starters are in at least their fourth season of college football. Left tackle Emmit Bohle will be playing his seventh season after the NCAA granted him another year of eligibility following a season-ending injury in last year’s opener.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham speaks during the Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Las Vegas, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Credit: AP/Lucas Peltier
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wyoming: QB Evan Svoboda will be making his second career start on Saturday. The Mesa, Arizona, native played in 10 games last season, starting one, and completed 23 of 38 passes for 200 yards. He’s a dual-threat quarterback, running for 26 yards on five carries and a touchdown in the team’s Arizona Bowl victory last season.
Arizona State: RB Cam Skattebo does a little bit of everything for the Sun Devils and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award last season, which goes to the nation’s most versatile player. He played more than 50 snaps at quarterback, more than 350 at running back, two at tight end, more than 100 at receiver, three on kick return and several on punt coverage.
FACTS & FIGURES
Wyoming RB Harrison Waylee has rushed for 2,876 yards in his career with 15 touchdowns. … The Cowboys return most of the offensive line. Nofoafia Tulafono has played in 36 career games with Caden Barnett and Jack Walsh each playing 23 games. … Wyoming DT Jordan Bertagnole has 23 tackles for loss in his career and 10 1/2 sacks. … Arizona State has 60 newcomes on this year’s roster. … New Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt played at Michigan State last season for new Wyoming offensive coordinator Jay Johnson. … ASU starting center Leif Fautanu has played 2,657 career snaps. That’s the third-most among active players heading into this season.
CASPER, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming has produced several NFL players currently making an impact. Here’s how they did in the most recent week’s slate of games.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen was explosive for the Bills on Sunday, and Buffalo survived its playoff opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars 27–24.
Allen accounted for three of his team’s four touchdowns, two coming on the ground and the third coming by way of the pass. He threw for 273 yards on 80% efficiency, also picking up 33 yards via the rushing game.
Allen and the Bills have advanced past the Wild Card round of the playoffs every year since 2020.
In the divisional round, the Bills will face the top seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos.
Frank Crum, Denver Broncos
Crum and the Broncos were off last week, as they earned a bye in the playoffs as the top AFC seed.
Crum will take the field against the Buffalo Bills and reigning MVP and fellow UW alum Josh Allen in the divisional round.
Marcus Epps, Philadelphia Eagles
Epps had a respectable day for the Eagles, though the team ultimately fell 23–19 to the San Francisco 49ers, marking the end of their season.
Epps had a trio of tackles for the Eagles’ secondary unit in the loss.
The former Wyoming Cowboy finishes the year with 24 tackles, including one for a loss.
Chad Muma, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots easily handled their Wild Card opponents, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 16–3. However, Muma had little impact on the result in limited playing time.
In the victory, Muma failed to record a statistic. He only took the field for 13 special teams snaps and did not play a defensive down.
The Patriots will move on to face the Houston Texans in the next round of the playoffs.
Related
A Buffalo High School senior will soon trade in her black and gold, to play for the brown and gold.
Karly Davis has signed a written offer of athletic aid, to play basketball for the University of Wyoming Cowgirls.
So far this season, she is averaging 19.5 points per game, which is 4th in Class 3A and 8th in all classes of Wyoming High School Girls Basketball.
Her average is up 1 point per game from last year.
Davis explains what she thinks it was that Cowgirl Head Coach Heather Ezell and the UW Coaching Staff saw in her that made them try to recruit her.
“I’m definitely a competitor. I think I show that a lot in my game, and I think I can shoot the ball pretty well, so I think that’s kind of what they sparked interest in me with.”
Davis adds she plans to major in elementary education.
SPRINGDALE, Utah (KUTV) — A Utah snowmobiler died in a Wyoming avalanche near LaBarge Creek.
Nicholas Bringhurst, 31, of Springville, Utah, was caught and buried in an avalanche at about 2:15 p.m. Jan. 11, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Air Idaho responded to the area along with Star Valley Search and Rescue.
Officials said Bringhurst’s friend located and uncovered him. Despite CPR efforts, Bringhurst died as a result of injuries sustained in the avalanche.
The sheriff’s office expressed its “deepest sympathies” to the Bringhurst family in a social media post.
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