The Wyoming Cowboys will open the Jay Sawvel era on Saturday evening with a trip to Big-12 foe Arizona State. It will be the first meeting between the former conference rivals since 1977.

The contest will be broadcasted on FS1 with Chris Myers on the call joined in the booth by Petros Papadakis. The game will also be available on the 26 stations of The Cowboy Sports Network with Keith Kelley on the call, Kevin McKinney on color and Erick Pauley on the sidelines.

 

The Jay Sawvel Era:

The Jay Sawvel era will kickoff with the Cowboys visit to Arizona State on Saturday. Sawvel was named the 33rd Head Coach in program history on Dec. 6, 2023 taking over for former head coach Craig Bohl following the Cowboys win over Toledo in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Sawvel served as the team’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach since February of 2020. Over his career, he has been part of 21 teams who advanced to postseason play, including 14 bowl appearances and seven NCAA Playoff appearances.

 

Season Openers: 

As the Wyoming Cowboys enter their 128th season of college football in 2024, the Pokes record in season openers stands at: 80-45-2 (.638) in 127 previous season-opening games. The Cowboys are 60-18-1 (.772) in season-opening games at home, and are 20-27-1 (.427) in road games to begin the season.

•Wyoming’s record in 127 Previous Season Openers (Home & Away) 80-45-2 (.635)

•UW in Season-Opening Games at Home (79 Games) 60-18-1 (.772)

•The Cowboys in Season-Opening Games on the Road (48 Games) 20-27-1 (.427)

•UW vs. Non-Conference Opponents in Season Openers 66-28-1 (.700)

•The Pokes vs. Non-Conference Opponents at Home in Season Openers 51-11-1 (.817)

•UW’s record vs. Non-Conference Opponents on the Road in Season Openers 15-17-0 (.469)

•Wyoming’s record vs. Conference Opponents in Season Openers 14-17-1 (.453)

 

Captains Announced:

Wyoming head football coach Jay Sawvel announced Monday during his press conference with the media that defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, quarterback Evan Svoboda and center Nofoafia Tulafono were named captains for the 2024 season. Bertagnole, a native of Casper is a captain for the second-straight season.

Suiaunoa on Butkus Watch List:

The 40th annual collegiate Butkus Award® selection process to identify the top linebacker in the country began with release of the preseason watch list. Wyoming linebacker Shae Suiaunoa was named to the list as one of 51 players. Suiaunoa appeared in and started all 13 games for the Cowboys last season. He was named third team All-MW by Phil Steele. He ranked second on the team with 93 total tackles. He also added 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception. He ranked tenth in the MW with 7.2 tackles per game. He had 10 or more tackles in three games last season.

 

John Mike on Mackey Watch List:

The Cowboys added another player to a preseason watch list with tight end John Michael Gyllenborg named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch list. Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end; the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. He was the only player from the Mountain West Conference named to the list. Gyllenborg was named to the Preseason All-MW squad in July. He participated in all 13 games with four starts, three of which were the final three contests of the season. He pulled in 23 passes for 360 yards with three touchdowns. Gyllenborg reeled in a career-long 89-yard touchdown pass against Hawaii, which also happened to be the longest passing touchdown of Wyoming’s season.

 

Bertagnole Racking Up the Preseason Honors:

The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football. Wyoming defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole was named to the list. He was also named a candidate for the Outland trophy. Bertagnole was named to the preseason All-Mountain West team and was named to the Shrine Bowl Preseason Watch list.

 

Homecoming for Svoboda:

Cowboy Quarterback Evan Svoboda will make his return to the Valley of the Sun, as the Mesa, Ariz. native will make his second career start against Arizona State. He will play in front of his family and friends, as he did at the Arizona Bowl to close out the 2023 season leading Wyoming to a win.

 

Waylee on Doak Walker Award Watch List:

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum released the preseason candidates for the 2024 Doak Walker Award. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s most outstanding college running back and Cowboy running back Harrison Waylee was named to the list. He will miss time early this season with an injury. Waylee had an outstanding season for the Cowboys in 2023. He was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West by the coaches and media. He was named to the Second Team All-MW by Phil Steele. He appeared in 10 games for the Poke with nine starts at running back. He rushed for 947 yards in those contests to rank sixth in the MW and No. 50 in the nation. He averaged 94.7 yards per game, a number that ranked fourth in the conference and No. 24 in the nation. He ended the season with 5.8 yards per carry to rank sixth in the MW and No. 34 in the nation.

 

Hoyland on Groza Watch List for Third-Straight Season:

University of Wyoming senior 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 Hoylandhas 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 ranks fifth in career scoring at UW with 296 points. He is one field goal away from tying Cooper Rothe for the school record in career field goals.

 

McNeely on comeback Watch List:

The College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization released a “Watch List” of 90 college football student-athletes from 68 different schools currently under consideration for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award. Cowboy running back Dawaiian McNeely was named to the list after missing all of last season with an injury. In 2022, McNeely appeared in 10 games with one start on the season. He recorded 356 rushing yards on 63 carries for 5.7 yards per carry.

 

Cowboy Duo Receives Special Honor:

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame has announced its 2024 Watch List for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award and two Wyoming Cowboys have been named to the list.  Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa and center Nofoafia Tulafono are both among this year’s candidates for the second-straight season. Suiaunoa appeared in and started all 13 games for the Cowboys last season. He was named third team All-MW by Phil Steele. He ranked second on the team with 93 total tackles. He also added 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception. Tulafono started all 13 games. He helped pave the way for Harrison Waylee to rush for north of 100 yards on four different occasions with the high-water mark being 191 yards against New Mexico.

About Arizona State:

For the first time in 47 years, UW will play former WAC rival Arizona State. The Cowboys trail the all-time series 9-6. The Sun Devils joined the Pac-10 after the 1977 season and will be playing their first game as a member of the Big 12.

        • ASU starting quarterback Sean Leavitt played at Michigan State last season for new UW offensive coordinator Jay Johnson. In four games for the Spartans, Leavitt was 15-for-23 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns before transferring following a coaching change.

        • The Sun Devils’ new offensive coordinator, Marcus Arroyo, held the same position with the Pokes under Dave Christensen from 2009-10 before stops at Cal, Oklahoma State, Oregon and as UNLV’s head coach from 2020-22. ASU’s rushing attack is led by Cam Skattebo, who had 788 yards rushing and nine touchdowns to lead the team in 2023.

         • UW quarterback Evan Svoboda, who is from nearby Mesa, Ariz., will face a strong secondary led by safety Shamari Simmons (led ASU with 73 tackles last season). The Sun Devils added 15 transfers on defense, including 12 from power conferences, to bolster all levels of the unit.