Wyoming
Wyoming sputters once again, loses by 20 to BYU
If you continue to perform the same action over and over again, expecting a different outcome, that is the definition of insanity.
Wyoming’s offense has looked no different from their opener in Tempe to last night’s game against BYU.
Coach-speak isn’t the answer.
Staying the course isn’t the answer.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter (7-0 BYU Advantage)
5:58 – 20-yard pass from QB Jake Retzlaff to WR Keanu Hill (Will Ferrin PAT)
Wyoming 0 – BYU 7
2nd Quarter (10-7 BYU Advantage)
9:12 – 3-yard pass from QB Jake Retzlaff to WR Kody Epps (Will Ferrin PAT)
5:11 – 2-yard run by QB Evan Svoboda (John Hoyland PAT)
Wyoming 7 – BYU 14
0:45 – 49-yard field goal by K Will Ferrin
Wyoming 7 – BYU 17
HALFTIME
3rd Quarter (17-0 BYU Advantage)
14:45 – 100-yard kickoff return for WR Keelan Marion (Will Ferrin PAT)
Wyoming 7 – BYU 24
9:42 – 37-yard field goal by K Will Ferrin
Wyoming 7 – BYU 27
0:02 – 20-yard pass from QB Jake Retzlaff to WR Darius Lassiter (Will Ferrin PAT)
Wyoming 7 – BYU 34
4th Quarter (7-0 WYO Advantage)
6:29 – 1-yard run by QB Evan Svoboda (John Hoyland PAT)
Wyoming 14 – BYU 34
FINAL
BYU COUGARS 34 – WYOMING COWBOYS 14
WYOMING PLAYER OF THE GAME
N Wrook Brown – The most impactful defender, Brown came up with an early interception to stymy the Cougars’ redzone offense. He had chances to bring down another pick or two, but was unable to come down with them. Showcasing his role as an on-field leader, Brown will need to maintain his efforts if Wyoming looks to find their first win of 2024.
GRADES
Offense – D-
The score doesn’t reflect how anemic this side of the ball has been since Jay Sawvel has taken over in Laramie.
Alex Taylor, writer for WyoSports, reported on the newly-updated statistics as of Sunday.
*These rankings are out of 133 FBS teams
Total offense: 132nd (201.7 yards per game)
Scoring offense: Tied for 130th (11.3 points per game)
Passing offense: 128th (114.7 yards per game)
Rushing offense: 120th (87 yards per game)
Only two out of 12 drives ended in points.
QB Evan Svoboda had moments of solid play, throwing receivers open and delivering darts.
Alas, that is still far and between – exemplified by a 43.8% completion percentage.
The running game was nowhere to be found.
Sam Scott, D.J. Jones and Dawaiian McNeely combined for 19 carries and 45 yards.
2.36 yards a carry is not going to cut it.
Even the return of John Michael Gyllenborg was underwhelming – the tight end didn’t record a single reception.
Many fans clamored for one of Wyoming’s backup QBs (Jayden Clemons or Kaden Anderson) to get some snaps in the 4th quarter.
That did not happen.
Sawvel made it known to the media after the game that his confidence in Svoboda has not wavered and that the Pokes have played two P4 teams in their first three games.
Wyoming plays North Texas in Denton, Texas, next week.
If a similar performance occurs in the Lone Star state, change should be expected.
Defense – C-
As the offense goes, so does the defense.
The thing is, I can’t blame those under Aaron Bohl’s leadership to have a tough time maintaining their defensive fortitude.
If you know the offense isn’t going to do squat when they get the ball back, motivation is hard to come by.
The defense held strong in the 1st half, limiting BYU to 17 points and keeping the Cowboys in the fight as they went to the locker room.
However, Cougar QB Jake Retzlaff found his rhythm coming out out of the half – finishing the game with 291 yards and 3 TDs.
I will say that outside of Retzlaff’s improvisation when forced out of the pocket, Wyoming held the run game in check – limiting BYU to 78 yards.
An interception by Wrook Brown prevented the Pokes from losing the turnover battle.
Special Teams – D+
Punting can only curve your performance so much.
Credit to Jack Culbreath and his ability to flip the field – he had eight chances to do so.
But when you allow a kick return touchdown right out of halftime that swings momentum violently in one direction, the fallout is on you as a unit.
A potential three-and-out on BYU’s opening possession of the second half could have been massive.
That TD put the game out of reach due to the Cowboys inability to march down the field when in possession.
Kicker John Hoyland converted two PATs, but nothing more.
WHAT DOES THIS RESULT SIGNIFY?
Not even a storied rivalry going back to 1922 was able to turn this ship around.
Sometimes, teams can have disappointing starts, yet, they see a bright light up ahead and know that the season will get better.
Wyoming?
You lost your lone FCS game and haven’t looked anywhere near competitive against two Big 12 teams expected to finish in the middle-to-bottom tier of the conference.
More importantly, I haven’t seen any contagious energy on the sideline or buzz within the team.
Lethargic, melancholy…you can pick whatever adjective you like.
But a team under a new head coach should never evoke this feeling three games in.
GOING FORWARD
North Texas.
Your last non-conference opponent before Mountain West play begins.
The Mean Green are 2-1 with not much on their resume.
A 52-38 win @ South Alabama.
A 35-20 vs FCS Stephen F. Austin.
A 66-21 loss @ Texas Tech where UNT gave up 52 points in the 1st half.
As of now, DraftKings favors North Texas by nine points.
Barring a miraculous turnaround after the bye week in early October, this team will not go bowling.
Mountain West cellar dwellers have improved (New Mexico, Utah State, San Jose State).
The Cowboys’ next two games are arguably their easiest left on the schedule (UNT and Air Force).
Jay Sawvel, Evan Svoboda, and everyone associated with Wyoming football need a win in the next two weeks.
WYOMING — Governor Mark Gordon hosted an impromptu panel discussion earlier this week with state veterinarians and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) to initiate communication efforts relating to the New World screwworm.
A statement from Gordon’s office says that there are no reported outbreaks of the flesh-eating New World screwworm in the U.S. outside of previously confirmed cases in Texas and New Mexico. Gordon called the session to increase lines of communication about the screwworm ahead of Wyoming’s peak summer travel, backcountry and rodeo season. Included in the panel were State Veterinarian Dr. Hallie Hasel, State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Allen, and WDH Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emily Curren.
“There are no reported cases in Wyoming; however, Texas and New Mexico are tracking instances, so it is important to keep all citizens informed — including pet owners, campers, rodeo athletes, and sportsmen, in addition to our ag, ranching and wildlife communities.” Gordon said in the statement. “I’m satisfied with the extensive outreach regarding NWS that has been ongoing to our ag, livestock, and wildlife professionals.”
Gordon and the panelists fielded questions and heard commentary from various professionals, including Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto, Director of Wyoming Game and Fish Department Angi Bruce, and Wyoming Livestock Board Director Steven True.
New World screwworm is a deadly, flesh-eating parasite that was previously eradicated in the United States and hasn’t been seen in Texas since 1966. An outbreak of the insects in Panama spurred a state of emergency in 2023, and a case of the screwworm was confirmed in southern Mexico in 2024. The female flies lay their eggs in open wounds of mammals, and the livestock industry is fearful of potential impacts on cattle and beef production.
Below are the key takeaways from the discussion, per Gordon’s statement.
- There are no reported outbreaks of New World screwworm in Wyoming.
- New World screwworms feed on and lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals, including humans.
- Transmission to humans is very rare.
- New World screwworm is not a food safety issue.
- Livestock and domesticated animals should be checked regularly — daily if possible.
- Contact a veterinarian or medical doctor if open wounds are painful and persistent.
- Keeping fly populations under control at rodeo events protects animals and people.
- Protocols for safe animal transport are currently in place in Wyoming.
- Wildlife and game populations are being monitored for early indicators of fly strikes.
JACKSON, Wyo. – Jackson Hole Public Art (JHPA) is proud to announce the
public installation of 250 Portraits, a community art project featuring self-portraits created and submitted by Wyoming residents from across the state. Launched in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the project invited Wyomingites of all ages and backgrounds to submit portraits of themselves or other Wyoming residents, resulting in a vibrant and deeply personal collection of artwork.
Portraits were submitted by artists ranging in age from 5 to over 80, representing residents from 16 of Wyoming’s 23 counties. Participants included individuals, families, school groups, and educators who worked with their students to take part. The result is a wide-ranging snapshot of the people who call Wyoming home, from young children just beginning to express themselves through art to lifelong residents reflecting on decades of experience and identity.
The portraits are now on display in five large-scale grid installations located throughout downtown Jackson. They can be found at the Center for the Arts, JH Book Trader, the Antler Inn, the alley at Pinky G’s, and the Jackson Hole Elks Lodge. The exhibition will remain on view throughout the summer, giving locals and visitors alike the opportunity to take in the full collection at their own pace.
The exhibit, 250 Portraits, was designed to highlight both individual identity and collective belonging, weaving together faces from communities large and small into a single, statewide visual portrait of Wyoming’s people. By placing the work in accessible, high-traffic locations in downtown Jackson, JHPA hopes to spark conversation among residents and visitors about what it means to be part of a community that spans such a wide and varied landscape.
A self-guided walking map is available to help visitors navigate between the five sites and experience other public art projects throughout Jackson. For more information and to access the 2026 Public Art Map, visit https://www.jhpublicart.org/art/2026map.
Pair your portrait with an audio story! Please consider adding your voice to another state-wide project celebrating the stories of everyday Wyomingites: Re-Storying the West.
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