List of Wyoming Cowboys football seasons

Last updated August 01, 2025

This is a list of seasons completed by the Wyoming Cowboys football team. Representing the University of Wyoming, the Cowboys compete in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA Division I FBS. Wyoming plays their home games out of 29,181-seat War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming. The Cowboys began playing football as an independent in 1893 and joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1916. The team played in the Western Athletic Conference from 1962 to 1998, and joined the Mountain West in 1999. They are currently led by head coach Jay Sawvel, who was named head coach on December 6, 2023, following the retirement of Craig Bohl.

Wyoming has three main rivalries, each with Mountain West opponents. The most notable of these is the Border War played against the Colorado State Rams. The winner receives the prized "Bronze Boot". Wyoming has won the last two meetings in the rivalry. The Cowboys also have rivalries with Hawaii and Utah State, the latter known as "Bridger's Battle".

Seasons

Legend
†National Champions ^† Conference champions ^‡ Division champions ^Bowl game berth

List of Wyoming Cowboys football seasons^[1]
Season	Team	Head coach	Conference	Division	Regular season results							Postseason results	Final ranking^[2]
					Overall			Conference				Bowl game/Playoff result	AP Poll	Coaches' Poll
					Win	Loss	Tie	Win	Loss	Tie	Finish	Bowl game/Playoff result	AP Poll	Coaches' Poll
Wyoming Cowboys
1893	1893	Fred Hess	Independent	—	1	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1894	1894	Fred Hess J.F. Soule			3	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1895	1895	J.F. Soule			1	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1896	1896				2	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1896	1896	2			0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1898	1898	Fred Hess			0	4	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1899	1899	J.F. Soule			0	1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1900	1900	William McMurray			3	3	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1901	1901				1	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1902	1902				1	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1903	1903				3	2	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1904	1904	4			1	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1905	1905	3	4		0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1906	1906	1	1		0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1907	1907	Robert Ehlman	2		1	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
		Robert Ehlman
1908	1908	1	2		0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1909	1909	H.I. Dean	3		5	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1910	1910		4		4	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1911	1911	4	3		1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1912	1912	L.C. Excelby	2		7	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1913	1913	Ralph Thacker	0		5	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
		Ralph Thacker
1914	1914	1	5		0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1915	1915	John Corbett	2		6	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1916	1916		Rocky Mountain		1	4	0	1	4	0	6th	—	—	—

1917	1917				3	4	0	1	4	0	7th	—	—	—

1918	1918				No games were played due to the Spanish influenza epidemic.

1919	1919				3	5	0	2	2	0	5th	—	—	—

1920	1920	4			5	1	1	4	1	7th	—	—	—

1921	1921	1			4	2	1	3	2	7th	—	—	—

1922	1922	1			8	0	0	7	0	11th	—	—	—

1923	1923	0			8	0	0	7	0	11th	—	—	—

1924	1924	William Dietz			2	6	0	2	6	0	10th	—	—	—

1925	1925			6	3	0	4	3	0	5th	—	—	—

1926	1926	2		4	2	1	2	2	8th	—	—	—

1927	1927	4	5	0	1	4	0	10th	—	—	—
1928	1928	George McLaren	2	7	0	0	5	0	11th	—	—	—
		George McLaren
1929	1929	1	7	0	0	7	0	12th	—	—	—
1930	1930	John Rhodes	2	5	1	1	5	1	10th	—	—	—

1931	1931		6	4	0	3	2	0	5th	—	—	—
1932	1932	2	6	1	1	4	1	8th	—	—	—
1933	1933	Willard Witte	2	6	1	1	6	1	11th	—	—	—

1934	1934		3	5	0	2	4	0	8th	—	—	—

1935	1935		4	4	0	3	4	0	8th	—	—	—

1936	1936	2	5	1	1	4	1	9th	—	—	—
1937	1937	3	5	0	2	4	0	8th	—	—	—
1938	1938	Mountain States	2	5	1	1	4	1	6th	—	—	—

1939	1939		Joel Hunt	0	7	1	0	5	1	7th	—	—	—

1940	1940		Okie Blanchard	1	7	1	0	5	1	7th	—	—	—

1941	1941		Bunny Oakes	2	7	1	1	5	0	6th	—	—	—

1942	1942			3	5	0	1	5	0	7th	—	—	—

1943	1943			Season cancelled due to World War II.

1944	1944		Season cancelled due to World War II.

1945	1945		Season cancelled due to World War II.

1946	1946		1	8	1	0	6	0	7th	—	—	—

1947	1947		Bowden Wyatt	4	5	0	2	4	0	6th	—	—	—

1948	1948			4	5	0	0	5	0	7th	—	—	—

1949	1949 ^†			9	1	0	5	0	0	1st^†	—	—	—

1950	1950 ^†	10	0	0	5	0	0	1st^†	Won 1951 Gator Bowl against Washington and Lee Generals, 20–7 ^	12	—
1951	1951	7	2	1	5	1	1	2nd	—	—	—
1952	1952	5	4	0	4	3	0	4th	—	—	—
1953	1953	Phil Dickens	5	4	1	4	2	1	3rd	—	—	—

1954	1954		6	4	0	5	1	0	2nd	—	—	—

1955	1955	8	3	0	5	2	0	3rd	Won 1956 Sun Bowl against Texas Tech Red Raiders, 21–14 ^	—	—
1956	1956 ^†	10	0	0	7	0	0	1st^†	—	—	—
1957	1957	Bob Devaney	4	3	3	3	2	2	4th	—	—	—

1958	1958 ^†		7	3	0	6	1	0	1st^†	Won 1958 Sun Bowl against Hardin–Simmons Cowboys, 14–6 ^	—	—

1959	1959 ^†		9	1	0	7	0	0	1st^†	—	16	—
1960	1960 ^†	8	2	0	6	1	0	1st^†	—	—	—
1961	1961 ^†	6	1	2	5	0	1	1st^†	—	—	—
1962	1962	Lloyd Eaton	WAC	5	5	0	2	2	0	2nd	—	—	—

1963	1963			6	4	0	2	3	0	4th	—	—	—

1964	1964			6	2	2	2	2	0	4th	—	—	—

1965	1965			6	4	0	3	2	0	3rd	—	—	—

1966	1966 ^†			10	1	0	5	1	0	1st^†	Won 1966 Sun Bowl against Florida State Seminoles, 28–20 ^	—	15

1967	1967 ^†	10		1	0	5	0	0	1st^†	Lost 1968 Sugar Bowl against LSU Tigers, 20–13 ^	6	5

1968	1968 ^†	7		3	0	6	1	0	1st^†	—	—	—

1969	1969	6		4	0	4	3	0	4th	—	—	—

1970	1970	1		9	0	1	6	0	8th	—	—	—

1971	1971	Fritz Shurmur		5	6	0	3	4	0	6th	—	—	—

1972	1972			4	7	0	3	4	0	5th	—	—	—

1973	1973	4		7	0	3	4	0	6th	—	—	—

1974	1974	2		9	0	1	6	0	8th	—	—	—

1975	1975	Fred Akers		2	9	0	1	6	0	7th	—	—	—
		Fred Akers
1976	1976 ^†	8		4	0	6	1	0	T–1st^†	Lost 1976 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma Sooners, 41–7 ^	—	—

1977	1977	Bill Lewis		4	6	1	4	3	0	4th	—	—	—

1978	1978			5	7	0	4	2	0	3rd	—	—	—

1979	1979	4		8	0	2	5	0	7th	—	—	—

1980	1980	Pat Dye		6	5	0	4	4	0	4th	—	—	—
1981	1981	Al Kincaid	8	3	0	6	2	0	4th	—	—	—

1982	1982		5	7	0	2	6	0	8th	—	—	—

1983	1983		7	5	0	5	3	0	3rd	—	—	—
1984	1984	6	6	0	4	4	0	6th	—	—	—
1985	1985	3	8	0	2	6	0	8th	—	—	—
1986	1986	Dennis Erickson	6	6	0	4	4	0	6th	—	—	—
1987	1987 ^†	Paul Roach	10	3	0	8	0	0	1st^†	Lost 1987 Holiday Bowl against Iowa Hawkeyes, 20–19 ^	—	—

1988	1988 ^†		11	2	0	8	0	0	1st^†	Lost 1988 Holiday Bowl against Oklahoma State Cowboys, 62–14 ^	—	20

1989	1989	5	6	0	5	3	0	4th	—	—	—
1990	1990	9	4	0	5	3	0	4th	Lost 1990 Copper Bowl against Cal Golden Bears, 17–15 ^	—	—
1991	1991	Joe Tiller	4	6	1	2	5	1	6th	—	—	—

1992	1992		5	7	0	3	5	0	7th	—	—	—

1993	1993 ^†		8	4	0	6	2	0	T–1st^†	Lost 1993 Copper Bowl against Kansas State Wildcats, 52–17 ^	—	—

1994	1994	6	6	0	4	4	0	5th	—	—	—
1995	1995	6	5	0	4	4	0	6th	—	—	—
1996 ^[a]	1996 ^‡	Pacific	10	2		7	1		1st^‡	—	22	22
		Pacific
1997	1997	Dana Dimel	7	6		4	4		4th	—	—	—

1998	1998		Mountain	8	3		6	2		2nd	—	—	—
1999	1999	Mountain West	—	7	4		4	3		4th	—	—	—

2000	2000			Vic Koenning	1	10		0	7		8th	—	—	—

2001	2001				2	9		0	7		8th	—	—	—

2002	2002			2	10		1	6		8th	—	—	—

2003	2003			Joe Glenn	4	8		2	5		8th	—	—	—

2004	2004				7	5		3	4		4th	Won 2004 Las Vegas Bowl against UCLA Bruins, 24–21 ^	—	—

2005	2005				4	7		2	6		8th	—	—	—

2006	2006		6	6		5	3		4th	—	—	—

2007	2007		5	7		2	6		7th	—	—	—

2008	2008		4	8		1	7		8th	—	—	—

2009	2009		Dave Christensen	7	6		4	4		5th	Won 2009 New Mexico Bowl against Fresno State Bulldogs, 35–28 (2OT) ^	—	—

2010	2010			3	9		1	7		8th	—	—	—

2011	2011			8	5		5	2		3rd	Lost 2011 New Mexico Bowl against Temple Owls, 37–15	—	—

2012	2012	4	8		3	5		6th	—	—	—
2013	2013	Mountain	5	7		3	5		4th	—	—	—

2014	2014		Craig Bohl	4	8		2	6		5th	—	—	—

2015	2015			2	10		2	6		6th	—	—	—

2016	2016 ^‡			8	6		6	2		T–1st^‡	Lost 2016 Poinsettia Bowl against BYU Cougars, 24–21	—	—

2017	2017	8		5		5	3		2nd	Won 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Central Michigan Chippewas, 37–14	—	—

2018	2018	6		6		4	4		3rd	—	—	—

2019	2019	8	5		4	4		4th	Won 2019 Arizona Bowl against Georgia State Panthers, 38–17	—	—
2020	2020	—^[b]	2	4		2	4		8th	—	—	—
2021	2021	Mountain	7	6		2	6		4th	Won 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Kent State Golden Flashes, 52–38	—	—
		Mountain
2022	2022	7	5		5	3		4th	Lost 2022 Arizona Bowl against Ohio Bobcats, 30–27	—	—
2023	2023	—	8	4		5	3		4th	Won 2023 Arizona Bowl against Toledo Rockets, 16-15	—	—
		—
2024	2024	Jay Sawvel	3	9		2	5		T–10th	—	—	—
Totals					All-time: 566–608–28 (.483)			Conference: 321–383–18 (.457)			—	Postseason: 9–9 (.500)	—	—

Notes

↑ Overtime rules were added to college football in 1996, thereby eliminating ties.
↑ Conference divisions were eliminated for the shortened 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

↑ "Wyoming Football Media Guide" (PDF). GoWyo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
↑ "Wyoming In the Polls". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 5, 2017.

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[3] Overtime rules were added to college football in 1996, thereby eliminating ties.

[4] Conference divisions were eliminated for the shortened 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[1] "Wyoming Football Media Guide" (PDF). GoWyo.com. Retrieved November 5, 2017.

[2] "Wyoming In the Polls". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 5, 2017.

[1]

[2]

[a]

[b]

v t e Wyoming Cowboys football
Venues	Prexy's Pasture (1893–1921) Corbett Field (1922–1949) War Memorial Stadium (1950–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Colorado State Hawaii Utah State
Culture & lore	Pistol Pete "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" Western Thunder Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

List of Wyoming Cowboys football seasons

Contents

Seasons

Notes

References