Wyoming
Remembering some of BYU's best wins over Wyoming
BYU football’s 100 season history would not be complete without Wyoming.
Other than Utah and Utah State, the Cougars have never faced another foe more than the Cowboys, having shared four different conferences together for a total of 88 years.
Though the two programs don’t meet on the field as often as they once did — this weekend’s trip to Laramie will be BYU’s first since 2009 — the rivalry remains rich with tradition and intrigue. It’s nearly impossible to forget the fervent hatred between Wyoming and the Cougars back in the day.
“This is a special game, really, when you get down to it for our players, for our program, for the state,” Cowboys head coach Jay Sawvel said of the matchup with BYU. “They’re not on any future schedule. I don’t know when they (will) ever come back to War Memorial Stadium. I think because of that this will obviously be a big deal to everyone in the state of Wyoming.”
If Saturday’s action truly is the last time the Cougars visit Cowboy country or even play Wyoming at all, then it’s been a ridiculous ride. Here’s a look back through the years at some of BYU’s most memorable victories over the brown and gold.
Nov. 14, 1922 — BYU 7, Wyoming 0
BYU has won more than 600 games in its history, and it all started against Wyoming.
The Cougars and Cowboys battled on a muddy south campus field where the Joseph Smith Building stands today, with Paul Packard finding fullback Hunter Manson for a 25-yard touchdown to give BYU both its first-ever touchdown and victory.
Since then, the Cougars have bested Wyoming on 45 more occasions, with Kalani Sitake’s crew looking to add one more to the tally this weekend.
Oct. 13, 1984 — No. 5 BYU 41, Wyoming 38
No one came closer to toppling the Cougars in their national championship campaign than Wyoming, which led BYU by five points heading into the final quarter of homecoming day in Provo.
Robbie Bosco connected with tight end David Mills late in the contest for a go-ahead touchdown — Mills’ third score of the game — as the Cougars held on for a 41-38 win en route to a 13-0 mark and improbable national title.
Bosco threw for five touchdowns against the Cowboys, while Lakei Heimuli totaled 118 yards of offense and an end zone trip as well.
Dec. 7, 1996 — No. 6 BYU 28, No. 20 Wyoming 25 (WAC Championship Game)
One could argue this was the rivalry’s most incredible contest.
Competing as nationally-ranked foes in the first-ever WAC title game, BYU held a 13-point halftime lead before the Cowboys swung right back to lead 25-22 late in the fourth quarter.
Steve Sarkisian then drove the Cougars down the field for a game-tying field goal to force overtime, where Ethan Pochman split the uprights once again to clinch BYU’s 16th and final WAC title.
Pochman netted four field goals that day against Wyoming, with Chad Lewis hauling in a Sarkisian pass for a score and Brian McKenzie adding a rushing touchdown as well.
BYU would go on to defeat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl and earn a No. 5 national ranking, while the Cowboys didn’t even receive a bowl invite despite their No. 22 ranking and 10-2 record.
Nov. 10, 2001 — No. 13 BYU 41, Wyoming 34
In this late-season showdown, BYU was looking for a 10-0 start, while Wyoming was fighting for its third win of the year. This would be a cakewalk for the Cougars, right?
It turned out to be anything but. The inspired Cowboys played out of their minds, even tying the score at 34 points apiece in the fourth quarter.
Luke Staley’s fourth touchdown of the afternoon gave BYU its final lead, with safety Levi Madarieta breaking up a Wyoming fourth-down pass at the goal line with 28 seconds remaining to preserve the Cougars’ victory.
Dec. 21, 2016 — BYU 24, Wyoming 21 (Poinsettia Bowl)
It was a great way for Kalani Sitake to end his first season at the helm of the Cougars.
BYU outlasted Wyoming in the final installment of San Diego’s Poinsettia Bowl, with Jamaal Williams exploding for 210 rushing yards and his teammates intercepting future NFL superstar Josh Allen twice in a 24-21 dub.
Tanner Mangum filled in for an injured Taysom Hill and both threw for and ran in a pair of touchdowns. Harvey Langi racked up 16 tackles, and Kai Nacua sealed the 14th bowl win in BYU program history by picking off Allen in the game’s final minute.
Wyoming
Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium | Fortune
Cheyenne, Wyoming, officials say Meta’s data center construction is responsible for the contamination of part of the town’s recycled water system.
The Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) traced the presence of a bacterium discovered in its wastewater treatment facility earlier this year to Goat Systems LLC, a Meta contractor for the tech company’s in-progress 715,000-square-foot data center campus, according to recent public notices from the BOPU.
The bacterium did not enter Cheyenne’s drinking water supply and was found in systems used for irrigation purposes only. Cupriavidus gilardii is a rare organism typically found naturally in water and soil. Infections from this bacterium are extremely rare, BOPU said, but can pose a threat to elders and immunocompromised individuals directly exposed to it.
It was discovered during routine testing in February, prompting BOPU to temporarily suspend the city’s reclaimed water irrigation program and terminate Meta’s discharge privileges.
The board also announced last week it would not accept industrial wastewater discharges associated with fill-and-flush operations—which circulates, then flushes purified water to eliminate construction debris and residue—nor closed-loop cooling systems popular in data centers that circulate coolants mixed with water.
The board classified the incident as “significant non-compliance with federal pretreatment regulations.”
“Over the past two months, BOPU staff have undertaken significant remediation efforts, including draining and disinfecting the entire reuse water system and Prairie View Pond to eliminate any remaining bacterial presence,” one notice said.
Cheyenne’s BOPU declined Fortune’s request for comment and said it will hold a press conference in the next week with additional details on the situation.
A Meta spokesperson told Fortune the company is supporting Fortis, its general contractor, in its efforts to resolve the problem, and that Fortis began testing its own water through a third-party environmental specialist, who found no traces of the bacterium.
“When the board shared that it found a substance in the city’s wastewater—not public drinking water—Fortis immediately stopped discharging industrial wastewater and began hauling it offsite,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “Meta is committed to being a good neighbor in Cheyenne, including through the protection of local water resources, and will continue encouraging collaboration between Fortis and the board until this situation is resolved.”
Pollutants from data center construction and operations are part of the mounting anxieties Americans have around the exploding growth of AI infrastructure around the country. A recent Gallup poll found about 70% of Americans somewhat or strongly oppose the construction of data centers in their local area. While half of respondents cited environmental concerns, such as excess water usage and deforestation, 16% of respondents cited pollutants, including air and water contamination, among reasons for their opposition.
Meta announced the construction of the Cheyenne data center in July 2024, saying it would be the company’s 21st data center in the U.S. and 25th globally. According to the company, Cheyenne provided access to infrastructure and energy and had a large talent pool from which to recruit.
Meta projected that the $800 million investment would sustain more than 1,000 construction jobs at the height of the build and support 100 jobs once completed. The campus is one of 27 data centers in Cheyenne and 31 in Wyoming. By comparison, Northern Virginia has the most data centers in the country, with about 550.
The tech company, for its part, previously said it would allocate resources toward the energy grid and water-cleanup efforts, including working with Black Hills Energy and the Laramie County Conservation District to restore Crow Creek, which recharges the state’s Ogallala Aquifer.
“Meta wants to be a positive contributor in communities like Cheyenne,” the company’s announcement said. “And that includes investing in the energy grid and supporting local water restoration projects.”
Wyoming
Fourth Annual Wyoming Firearms & Outdoor Recreation Expo, Wyoming Governor’s Match returning to Casper July 18, 19
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation recently announced that the community is invited to a series of events happening on July 18 and 19.
The weekend will feature the Wyoming Governor’s Match, as well as the Firearms & Outdoor Recreation Expo.
A release from the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation says that the 10th Annual Wyoming Governor’s Match, hosted in partnership with the Casper Shooter’s Club, will run July 18–19 at the Stuckenhoff Shooters Complex, 10 minutes outside of Casper.
The event will bring together spectators, shooting sports organizers and elected officials to interact with more than 360 competitive shooters from across the country.
Eye protection is required for spectators, and ear protection is highly recommended.
Additionally, on Saturday, July 18, the fourth annual Wyoming Firearms & Outdoor Recreation Expo is taking place at David Street Station from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The expo is free and open to the public, and it will feature exhibitor booths, a legislative panel and family-friendly activities. It will also feature local food and drink vendors, including WY Knot Pretzel Co., The Dog House and Kuver’s BBQ.
Expo attendees will be able to explore products and gear and will be able to witness demonstrations by the following Wyoming-based brands and organizations:
- 3C Guiding LLC
- 9×19 Fabrication
- ACG
- Adventure Ready RV Solutions
- Cutting Edge Tactics and Training
- Diamond R Saddlery
- DVL Custom Lures
- FEROX
- Freedom Tactical Firearms
- Guardian Warrior Solutions
- Gunwerks
- High Carbon Mercantile
- Kimber Tracks Big Game Recovery/Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery
- Lucid Optics
- Maven Optics
- MOD Outfitters
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- Red, White and Blued
- Ridgeline Customs LLC
- Rocky Mountain Discount Sports
- Scouting America
- Sheridan Fly Rod Co.
- Thunder Beast Arms
- Wilkinson Tactical
- Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
- Wyoming Game & Fish Department
- Wyoming Gun Company
- Wyoming Motorcycle Trials Association
- Wyoming Patriots
The release notes that from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation will facilitate an Outdoor Recreation Legislative Panel on the lawn of David Street Station. The panel discussion is also free and open to the public and will offer legislators and elected officials an opportunity to discuss the importance of growing and sustaining the outdoor recreation and shooting sports industry.
To RSVP or learn more about the Wyoming Firearms & Outdoor Recreation Expo, visit wyorec.info/Expo2026.
To register or learn more about the Wyoming Governor’s Match, visit wyorec.info/GovMatch2026.
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