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 | |
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Division | Regular season results | Postseason results | Final ranking | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | Bowl game/Playoff result | AP Poll | Coaches' Poll | ||||||||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish | ||||||||
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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 | — | — | — | ||
| 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 | — | — | — | ||
| 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 | 1996 | Pacific | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1st | — | 22 | 22 | ||||
| 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 | — | 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 | — | — | ||||
| 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 | — | — | ||||
| Totals | All-time: 563–599–28 (.485) |
Conference: 319–378–18 (.459) |
— | 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.
| Wyoming Cowboys football | |
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| Bowls & rivalries | |
| Culture & lore | |
| People | |
| Seasons |
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| Mountain West Conference football team seasons | |
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