So far, so good.
The Wyoming Cowboy football team have so far done what they’ve needed to through their opening two games in their non-conference slate–that is, taking two relatively convincing wins over a rather poor Akron team on the road and FCS opponent Northern Iowa at home.
It will be in their final pair of non-conference contests where the Cowboys and head coach Jay Sawvel will truly find out what kind of team they are, with the 20th ranked Utah Utes on deck to play in Laramie this weekend.
Get to Know Utah
The Utes have opened their season with a pair of dominant home wins over the likes of UCLA and Cal Poly.
The Cowboy defense will have a challenging familiar face to keep in check this weekend, and one they’ve certainly struggled with in the past. That would be former New Mexico starting quarterback Devon Dampier. The Cowboy defense struggled immensely in containing Dampier a season ago, as he finished with 164 yards through the air and 207 on the ground, accounting for four touchdowns that day. Despite that, the Cowboys still won the high-scoring affair 49-45.
It’s a much different Cowboy defense that will line up against Dampier this Saturday–but, by the same token, Dampier is surrounded by much different and more talented personnel this time around.
“The most frustrating thing defensively when you play against a quarterback like this, it’s hard enough to put yourself in the right spot to where you feel like we’ve got this play stopped. Then it’s the unscripted things that he can do that just break a play down or break a defense down and can keep a drive going,” Sawvel said of Dampier.
Senior wideout Ryan Davis was one of Dampier’s favorite targets at New Mexico and has since followed him to the Utes and has been his top target through two games, catching nine balls for 80 yards and a touchdown.
#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/Dt0CPXgYR5
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 6, 2025
Running back Wayshawn Parker has so far accounted for 112 yards and two touchdowns on the ground after transferring in from Washington State, where he rushed for over 700 yards a season ago. He didn’t have much luck against the Cowboys in their 15-14 upset of the Cougars last year, though, only rushing 14 times for 45 yards.
The Utes’ offense does their work surrounded by what Sawvel considers to be one of the better offensive lines in the entire country, as well.
“They have an incredibly good offensive line, with two outstanding offensive tackles that are as good as what you’re going to find anywhere in the country,” Sawvel said.
The Utes’ defense is no slouch either, as they have only allowed a total of 19 total points in their opening pair of dominant wins. The Cowboy offense–which has proven to be efficient in their opening pair of wins–will face a huge test against a Big 12 defensive unit.
“They’re extremely strong on defense and physical, and they play very hard and they’re well coached,” Sawvel said.
Stout Cowboy Defense Faces Biggest Challenge Yet
After lacking much of any depth and featuring a rather unimpressive defense a year ago–one that 103rd in the nation in total defense–Sawvel’s newly reformed defensive unit has looked the better part of one of the best defenses in the nation through the opening two weeks of play.
The Cowboys rank towards the top of all teams in the nation in many defensive categories at the moment, including a gawking 2nd place in scoring defense, tied with Ohio State. The Cowboy defense has so far only allowed seven points and 398 yards of total offense.
Don’t let them score. @EllerEvan with a pick in the red zone for the Pokes! pic.twitter.com/SSSliws5p9
— Wyoming Cowboy Football (@wyo_football) September 6, 2025
That is an utterly stark difference from even the two game start the Cowboys had a season ago, as their defense then had given up 65 points and 724 yards of total offense.
It hasn’t felt like the Cowboys’ defense has truly been tested by a dynamic offense, though. The Cowboys’ inaugural opponent, Akron, have yet to score even a single point in their first two games of the season, being absolutely torched by Nebraska 65-0 last weekend. While Northern Iowa’s offense presented much more of a challenge to the Cowboy defense, the FCS program isn’t necessarily turning heads with their offensive prowess either.
This newly minted Cowboy offense will have a massive opportunity to show what they’re made of against the current 22nd ranked offense in the nation in the Utes, who are currently averaging just over 500 yards of offense per game.
“Everybody across the board for us defensively this week, we’re going to have to play as good as what we possibly can,” Sawvel said.
“It’s a great opportunity.”
Starting Quarterback Kaden Anderson Presumed to Play This Weekend
Breathe a sigh of relief, as starting quarterback Kaden Anderson will presumably play this upcoming weekend–bar any setbacks–after taking a big hit against Northern Iowa and being taken to the hospital.
“I would anticipate him playing, for sure,” Sawvel said.
Anderson has so far accounted for 427 yards through the air this season, including four touchdowns and just one interception. Backing Anderson up would be Landon Sims, a junior college transfer from East Central Community College. There, he would throw for 1,760 yards, 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions during their 2024 campaign.
If Sims is to be deployed under center this weekend, it won’t be without the confidence of his teammates and coaches.
“Everybody in the program has real confidence in Landon Sims,” Sawvel said.
Regardless of who comes out under center against the Utes, it’s no doubt that the Cowboys will have to play their best game to date if they’re to come up with a win and begin the season a striking 3-0.
